HORATIO 
ALGERJ5 


LUKE  WALTON 


BY 
HORATIO  ALGER,  JR. 

Author  of  Tae  Store  Boy,  Bound  to  Rise,  Brave  and  Bold,  Gash 

Boy,  Erie  Train  Boy,  Julius  the  Street  Boy,  Paul 

the  Peddler.  Phil  the  Fiddler,  Etc. 


CHICAGO 

Ml.  A.  DONOHUE  &  CO. 
407-429  DEARBORN  ST. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PACK 

I.  A  CHICAGO  NEWSBOY       .  "    •       .        .        . ,      \ 

IL  A  LETTER  FROM  THE  DEAD     ....        7 

III.  LUKE  FORMS  A  RESOLUTION    .        .        .        .13 

IV.  AN  ATTACK  IN  THE  DARK       ....      20 
V.  How  LUKE  ESCAPED 26 

VI.  MR.  AFTON'S  OFFICE        .        .        .  32 

VII  A  STRANGE  ENCOUNTER.  .        .       .        .       «      40 

VIII.  A  MARKED  MAN       .        .        .        .        .        .46 

IX.  STEPHEN  WEBB         .        .    •   .        ...        .       53 

X.  STEPHEN  WEBB  OBTAINS  SOME  INFORMATION       59 

XI.  A  HOUSE  ON  PRAIRIE  AVENUE        ^        ,    .    .      66 

XII.  A  PLOT  THAT  FAILED      .        ..'.'•        .       73 

XIII.  TOM  BROOKS  IN  TROUBLE        .        «        .        .80 

XIV.  LUKE    HAS   A    COOL   RECEPTION  IN  PRAIRIE 

AVENUE        .......      87 

XV.  A  WELCOME  GIFT     .        .  .        .        .94 

XVI.  THOMAS  BROWNING  AT  HOME          .        .        .     100 

XVII.  A  STRANGE  VISITOR         .....     107 

XVIII.  How  JACK  KING  FARED          ,       .        .        .114 

XIX.  A  SENSATIONAL  INCIDENT        .        .        .  120 

XX.  AMBROSE  KEAN'S  IMPRUDENCE          .        .        .    136 

XXI.  A  FRIEND  IN  NEED  .       ,        ,        .     132 

XXII.  How  AMBROSE  KEAN  WAS  SAVED  .        .     13! 

iii 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 
XXIII. 

XXIV. 
XXV. 
XXVI. 
XXVII. 
XXVIII. 
XXIX. 
XXX. 
XXXI. 
XXXII. 

XXXIII. 

XXXIV. 

XXXV. 

XXXVI. 

XXXVII. 

XXXVIII. 

XXXIX. 

XL. 

XLJ. 

XLII. 


STEPHEN  WEBB  is  PUZZLED 


PAGE 

145 


MRS.  MERTON  PASSES  A  PLEASANT  EVENING  151 

MRS.  TRACY'S  BROTHER       ....  157 

THE  PRODIGAL'S  RECEPTION        .        .        .  163 

UNCLE  AND  NEPHEW  .        .        .        .170 

HAROLD'S  TEMPTATION        ....  177 

HAROLD'S  THEFT 184 

LUKE  WALTON  is  SUSPECTED  OF  THEFT  190 
WHO  STOLE  THE  MONEY?          .        .        .  197 
HAROLD  AND  FELICIE  MAKE  AN  ARRANGE- 
MENT        204 

HAROLD'S  PLOT  FAILS        .        .        .        .210 

HAROLD  MAKES  A  PURCHASE     .        .        .  217 

A  SKILLFUL  INVENTION      ....  224 

WARNER  POWELL  STARTS  ON  A  JOURNEY  231 

THOMAS  BROWNING'S  SECRET     .        .        .  237 

FELICIE  PROVES  TROUBLESOME   .        .        .  244 

LUKE  WALTON'S  LETTER    ....  249 

FACE  TO  FACE  WITH  THE  ENEMY      .        .  254 

MR.  BROWNING  COMES  TO  TERMS      .        .  259 

CONCLUSION                  .                ...  262 


LUKE   WALTON 

CHAPTER   I 

A   CHICAGO   NEWSBOY 

"  News  and  Mail,  one  cent  each !  " 

Half  a  dozen  Chicago  newsboys,  varying  in  age 
from  ten  to  sixteen  years,  with  piles  of  papers  in 
their  hands,  joined  in  the  chorus. 

They  were  standing  in  front  and  at  the  sides  of 
the  Sherman  House,  on  the  corner  of  Clark  and 
Randolph  Streets,  one  of  the  noted  buildings  in  the 
Lake  City.  On  the  opposite  side  of  Randolph  Street 
stands  a  massive  but  somewhat  gloomy  stone  struc- 
ture, the  Court  House  and  City  Hall.  In  the  shadow 
of  these  buildings,  at  the  corner,  Luke  Walton,  one 
of  the  largest  newsboys,  had  posted  himself.  There 
was  something  about  his  bearing  and  appearance 
which  distinguished  him  in  a  noticeable  way  from 
his  companions. 

To  begin  with,  he  looked  out  of  place.  He  wa* 
well  grown,  with  a  frank,  handsome  face,  and  wa» 
better  dressed  than  the  average  newsboy.  That 
was  one  reason,  perhaps,  why  he  preferred  to  be  by 


a  LUKE   WALTON 

himself,  rather  than  to  engage  in  the  scramble  for 
customers  which  was  the  habit  of  the  boys  around 
him. 

It  was  half-past  five.  The  numerous  cars  that 
passed  were  full  of  business  men,  clerks,  and  boys, 
returning  to  their  homes  after  a  busy  day. 

Luke  had  but  two  papers  left,  and  he  was  anxious 
to  dispose  of  them  so  that  he,  too,  might  go  home. 
But  these  two  for  some  unaccountable  reason  re- 
mained on  his  hands  an  unusual  length  of  time.  But 
at  length  a  comfortable-looking  gentleman  of  mid- 
dle age,  coming  from  the  direction  of  La  Salle 
Street,  paused  and  said,  "  You  may  give  me  a  News, 
my  boy." 

Luke  gladly  complied  with  the  request. 

"  Here  you  are,  sir,"  he  said,  briskly. 

The  gentleman  took  the  paper,  and  thrusting  his 
hand  into  his  pocket,  began  to  feel  for  a  penny,  but 
apparently  without  success. 

"  I  declare,"  he  said,  smiling,  "  I  believe  I  am  pen- 
niless. I  have  nothing  but  a  five-dollar  bill." 

"Never  mind,  sir!  Take  the  paper  and  pay  me 
to-morrow." 

"  But  I  may  not  see  you." 

"  I  am  generally  here  about  this  time." 

"  And  if  I  shouldn't  see  you,  you  will  lose  the 
penny." 

"  I  will  risk  it,  sir,"  said  Luke,  smiling. 

"  You  appear  to  have  confidence  in  me." 

"  Yes,  sir." 


LUKE   WALTON  3 

"  Then  it  is  only  fair  that  I  should  have  confidence 
in  you." 

Luke  looked  puzzled,  for  he  didn't  quite  under- 
stand what  was  in  the  gentleman's  mind. 

"  I  will  take  both  of  your  papers.  Here  is  a  five- 
dollar  bill.  You  may  bring  me  the  change  to-mor- 
row, at  my  office,  No.  155  La  Salle  Street.  My 
name  is  Benjamin  Afton." 

"  But,  sir,"  objected  Luke,  "  there  is  no  occasion 
for  this.  It  is  much  better  that  I  should  trust  you 
for  two  cents  than  that  you  should  trust  me  with 
five  dollars." 

"  Probably  the  two  cents  are  as  important  to 
you  as  five  dollars  to  me.  At  any  rate,  it  is  a  mat- 
ter of  confidence,  and  I  am  quite  willing  to  trust 
you." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  but " 

"  I  shall  have  to  leave  you,  or  I  shall  be  home  late 
to  dinner." 

Before  Luke  had  a  chance  to  protest  further,  he 
found  himself  alone,  his  stock  of  papers  exhausted, 
and  a  five-dollar  bill  in  his  hand. 

While  he  stood  on  the  corner  in  some  perplexity, 
a  newsboy  crossed  Randolph  Street,  and  accosted 
him. 

"  My  eyes,  if  you  ain't  in  luck,  Luke  Walton,"  he 
said.  "  Where  did  you  get  that  bill  ?  Is  it  a  one?  " 

"  No,  it's  a  five." 

"Where'd  you  get  it?" 

"A  gentleman  just  bought  two  papers  of  me." 


4  LUKE    WALTON 

"  And  gave  you  five  do)  .r s !  You  don't  expect 
me  to  swaller  all  that,  do  yx  '  ?  " 

"  I'm  to  bring  him  the  t  Mige  to-morrow,"  con- 
tinued Luke. 

The  other  boy  nearly  doubled  up  with  merri- 
ment. 

"  Wasn't  he  jolly  green,  though?  "  he  ejaculated. 

"  Why  was  he  ?  "  asked  Luke,  who  by  this  time 
felt  considerably  annoyed. 

"  He'll  have  to  whistle  for  his  money." 

"Why  will  he?" 

"  'Cause  he  will." 

"  He  won't  do  anything  of  the  sort.  I  shall  take 
him  his  change  to-morrow  morning." 

"  What?  "  ejaculated  Tom  Brooks  in  a  shrill  cres- 
cendo. 

"  I  shall  carry  him  his  change  in  the  morning — 
four  dollars  and  ninety-eight  cents.  Can't  you  un- 
derstand that  ?  " 

"  You  ain't  going  to  be  such  a  fool,  Luke  Wal- 
ton?" 

"If  it's  being  a  fool  to  be  honest,  then  I'm  going 
to  be  that  kind  of  a  fool.  Wouldn't  you  do  the 
same? " 

"  No,  I  wouldn't.  I'd  just  invite  all  the  boys 
round  the  corner  to  go  with  me  to  the  theayter. 
Come,  Luke,  be  a  good  feller,  and  give  us  all  a  blow- 
out. We'll  go  to  the  theayter,  and  afterwards  we'll 
have  an  oyster  stew.  I  know  a  bully  place  on  Clark 
Street,  near  Monroe." 


LUKE   WALTON  5 

"  Do  you  take  me  for  a  thief,  Tom  Brooks  ?  "  ex- 
claimed Luke,  indignantly. 

"  The  gentleman  meant  you  to  have  the  money. 
Of  course  he  knew  you  wouldn't  bring  it  back. 
Lemme  see,  there's  a  good  play  on  to  Hooley's.  Six 
of  us  will  cost  a  dollar  and  a  half,  and  the  oyster 
stews  will  be  fifteen  cents  apiece.  That'll  only  take 
half  the  money,  and  you'll  have  half  left  for  your- 
self." 

"  I  am  ashamed  of  you,  Tom  Brooks.  You  want 
me  to  become  a  thief,  and  it  is  very  evident  what 
you  would  do  if  you  were  in  my  place.  What  would 
the  gentleman  think  of  me  ?  " 

"  He  don't  know  you.  You  can  go  on  State 
Street  to  sell  papers,  so  he  won't  see  you." 

"  Suppose  he  should  see  me  ?  " 

"  You  can  tell  him  you  lost  the  money.  You  ain't 
smart,  Luke  Walton,  or  you'd  know  how  to  man- 
age." 

"  No,  I  am  not  smart  in  that  way,  I  confess.  I 
shan't  waste  any  more  time  talking  to  you.  I'm 
going  home." 

"  I  know  what  you  are  going  to  do.  You're  goin* 
to  spend  all  the  money  on  yourself." 

"  Don't  you  believe  that  I  mean  to  return  the 
change  ? " 

"  No,  I  don't." 

"  I  ought  not  to  complain  of  that.  You  merely 
credit  me  with  acting  a*  you  would  act  yourself. 
How  many  papers  have  you  got  left  ?  " 


6  LUKE   WALTON 

"  Eight." 

"  Here,  give  me  half,  and  I  will  sell  them  for 
you,  that  is,  if  I  can  do  it  in  fifteen  minutes." 

"  I'd  rather  you'd  take  me  to  the  theayter,"  grum- 
bled Tom. 

"  I  have  already  told  you  I  won't  do  it." 

In  ten  minutes  Luke  had  sold  his  extra  supply  of 
papers,  and  handed  the  money  to  Tom.  Tom 
thanked  him  in  an  ungracious  sort  of  way,  and  Luke 
started  for  home. 

It  was  a  long  walk,  for  the  poor  cannot  afford  to 
pick  and  choose  their  localities.  Luke  took  his  way 
through  Clark  Street  to  the  river,  and  then,  turn- 
ing in  a  northwesterly  direction,  reached  Milwaukee 
Avenue.  This  is  not  a  fashionable  locality,  and  the 
side  streets  are  tenanted  by  those  who  are  poor  or 
of  limited  means. 

Luke  paused  in  front  of  a  three-story  frame  house 
in  Green  Street,  which  might  have  been  improved 
by  a  coat  of  paint.  He  ascended  the  steps  and 
opened  the  door,  for  this  was  the  newsboy's  home. 


CHAPTER    II 

A   LETTER    FROM    THE   DEAD 

In  the  entry  Luke  met  a  girl  of  fourteen  with 
fiery  red  hair,  which  apparently  was  a  stranger  to 
the  comb  and  brush.  She  was  the  landlady's 
daughter,  and,  though  of  rather  fitful  and  uncertain 
temper,  always  had  a  smile  and  pleasant  word  for 
Luke,  who  was  a  favorite  of  hers. 

"  Well,  Nancy,  how's  mother  ?  "  asked  the  news- 
boy, as  he  began  to  ascend  the  front  stairs. 

"  She  seems  rather  upset  like,  Luke,"  answered 
Nancy. 

"  What  has  happened  to  upset  her  ?  "  asked  Luke, 
anxiously. 

"  I  think  it's  a  letter  she  got  about  noon.  It  was 
a  queer  letter,  all  marked  up,  as  if  it  had  been  trav- 
elin'  round,  and  was  stained  with  tobacco.  How  it 
did  smell !  I  took  it  in  myself,  and  carried  it  up  to 
your  ma.  I  stayed  to  see  her  open  it,  for  I  was  kind 
of  curious  to  know  who  writ  it." 

"Well?" 

"  As  soon  as  you  ma  opened  it,  she  turned  as  pale 
as  ashes,  and  I  thought  she'd  faint  away.  She  put 
her  hand  on  her  heart  just  so,"  and  Nancy  placed 

7 


8  LUKE    WALTON 

a  rather  dirty  hand  of  her  own,  on  which  glittered  a 
five-cent  brass  ring,  over  that  portion  of  her  anat- 
omy where  she  supposed  her  heart  lay. 

"She  didn't  faint  away,  did  she?"  asked  Luke, 
quickly. 

"  No,  not  quite." 

"  Did  she  say  who  the  letter  was  from?" 

"  No ;  I  asked  her,  but  she  said,  '  From  no  one 
that  you  ever  saw,  Nancy.'  I  say,  Luke,  if  you  find 
out  who's  it  from,  let  me  know.  I  shan't  sleep  a 
wink  if  I  don't  find  out." 

"  I  won't  promise,  Nancy.  Perhaps  mother  would 
prefer  to  keep  it  a  secret." 

"  Oh,  well,  keep  your  old  secrets,  if  you  want  to," 
said  Nancy,  pettishly. 

"  Don't  be  angry,  Nancy ;  I  will  tell  you  if  I  can," 
and  Luke  hurried  upstairs  to  the  third  story,  which 
contained  the  three  rooms  occupied  by  his  mother, 
his  little  brother,  and  himself. 

Opening  the  door,  he  saw  his  mother  sitting  in  a 
rocking-chair,  apparently  in  deep  thought,  for  the 
work  had  fallen  from  her  hands  and  lay  in  her  lap. 
There  was  an  expression  of  sadness  in  her  face,  as 
if  she  had  been  thinking  of  the  happy  past,  when 
the  little  family  was  prosperous,  and  undisturbed  by 
poverty  or  privation. 

"  What's  the  matter,  mother?  "  asked  Luke,  with 
lolicitude. 

Mrs.  Walton  looked  up  quickly. 

"  I  have  been  longing  to  have  you  come  back, 


LUKE   WALTON  9 

Luke,"  she  said.  "  Something  strange  has«happened 
to-day." 

"  You  received  a  letter,  did  you  not?  " 

"Who  told  you,  Luke?" 

"  Nancy.  I  met  her  as  I  came  in.  She  said  she 
brought  up  the  letter,  and  that  you  appeared  very 
much  agitated  when  you  opened  it." 

"  It  is  true." 

"  From  whom  was  the  letter,  then,  mother?  " 

"  From  your  father." 

"  What !  "  exclaimed  Luke,  with  a  start.  "  Is  he 
not  dead  ?  " 

"  The  letter  was  written  a  year  ago." 

"  Why,  then,  has  it  arrived  so  late  ?  " 

"  Your  father  on  his  deathbed  intrusted  it  to  some- 
one who  mislaid  it,  and  has  only  just  discovered  and 
mailed  it.  On  the  envelope  he  explains  this,  and 
expresses  his  regret.  It  was  at  first  mailed  to  our 
old  home,  and  has  been  forwarded  from  there.  But 
that  is  not  all,  Luke.  I  learn  from  the  letter  that  we 
have  been  cruelly  wronged.  Your  father,  when  he 
knew  he  could  not  live,  intrusted  to  a  man  in 
whom  he  had  confidence,  ten  thousand  dollars  to 
be  conveyed  to  us.  This  wicked  man  could  not  resist 
the  temptation,  but  kept  it,  thinking  we  should  never 
know  anything  about  it.  You  will  find  it  all  ex- 
plained in  the  letter." 

"  Let  me  read  it,  mother,"  said  Luke,  in  excite- 
ment. 

Mrs.  Walton  opened  a  drawer  of  the  bureau,  and 


io  LUKE   WALTON 

placed  in  her  son's  hands  an  envelope,  brown  and 
soiled  by  contact  with  tobacco.  It  was  directed  to 
her  in  a  shaky  hand.  Across  one  end  were  written 
these  words: 

"  This  letter  was  mislaid.  I  have  just  discovered 
it,  and  mail  it,  hoping  it  will  reach  you  without 
further  delay.  Many  apologies  and  regrets. 

"  J.  HANSHAW." 

Luke  did  not  spend  much  time  upon  the  envelope, 
but  opened  the  letter. 

The  sight  of  his  father's  familiar  handwriting 
brought  the  tears  to  his  eyes,  moving  him,  though 
not  in  the  same  degree  as  it  had  moved  his  mother. 

This  was  the  letter: 

"  GOLD  GULCH,  California. 

"  MY  DEAR  WIFE  :  It  is  a  solemn  thought  to  me 
that  when  you  receive  this  letter  these  trembling 
fingers  will  be  cold  in  death.  Yes,  dear  Mary,  I 
know  very  well  that  I  am  on  my  deathbed,  and 
shall  never  more  be  permitted  to  see  your  sweet 
face,  or  meet  again  the  gaze  of  my  dear  children. 
Last  week  I  contracted  a  severe  cold  while  mining, 
partly  through  imprudent  exposure ;  and  have 
grown  steadily  worse,  till  the  doctor,  whom  I  sum- 
moned from  Sacramento,  informs  me  that  there  is 
no  hope,  and  that  my  life  is  not  likely  to  extend 
beyond  two  days. 


LUKE   WALTON  n 

"  This  is  a  sad  end  to  my  dreams  of  future  happi- 
ness with  my  little  family  gathered  around  me.  It 
is  all  the  harder,  because  I  have  been  successful 
in  the  errand  that  brought  me  out  here.  '  I  have 
struck  it  rich,'  as  they  say  out  here,  and  have  been 
able  to  lay  by  ten  thousand  dollars.  I  intended  to 
go  home  next  month,  carrying  this  with  me.  It 
would  have  enabled  me  to  start  in  some  business 
which  would  have  yielded  us  a  liberal  living,  and 
provided  a  comfortable  home  for  you  and  the  chil- 
dren. But  all  this  is  over — for  me  at  least.  For 
you  I  hope  the  money  will  bring  what  I  anticipated. 
I  wish  I  could  live  long  enough  to  see  it  in  your 
hands,  but  that  cannot  be. 

"  I  have  intrusted  it  to  a  friend  who  has  been  con- 
nected with  me  here,  Thomas  Butler,  of  Chicago. 
He  has  solemnly  promised  to  seek  you  out,  and  put 
the  money  into  your  hands.  I  think  he  will  be  true 
to  his  trust.  Indeed  I  have  no  doubt  on  the  subject, 
for  I  cannot  conceive  of  any  man  being  base  enough 
to  belie  the  confidence  placed  in  him  by  a  dying 
man,  and  despoil  a  widow  and  her  fatherless  chil- 
dren. No,  I  will  not  permit  myself  to  doubt  the 
integrity  of  my  friend.  If  I  should,  it  would  make 
my  last  sickness  exceedingly  bitter. 

"  Yet,  as  something  might  happen  to  Butler  OH 
his  way  home,  though  exceedingly  improbable,  I 
think  it  well  to  describe  him  to  you.  He  is  a  man  of 
nearly  fifty,  I  should  say,  about  five  feet  ten  inches 
in  height,  with  a  dark  complexion,  and  dark  hair  a 


12  LUKE   WALTON 

little  tinged  with  gray.  He  will  weigh  about  one 
hundred  and  sixty  pounds.  But  there  is  one  strik- 
ing mark  about  him  which  will  serve  to  identify 
him.  He  has  a  wart  on  the  upper  part  of  his  right 
cheek — a  mark  which  disfigures  him  and  mortifies 
him  exceedingly.  He  has  consulted  a  physician 
about  its  removal,  but  has  been  told  that  the  opera- 
tion would  involve  danger,  and,  moreover,  would 
not  be  effectual,  as  the  wart  is  believed  to  be  of  a 
cancerous  nature,  and  would  in  all  probability  grow 
out  again.  For  these  reasons  he  has  given  up  his 
intention  of  having  it  removed,  and  made  up  his 
mind,  unwillingly  enough,  to  carry  it  to  the  grave 
with  him. 

"  I  have  given  you  this  long  description,  not  be- 
cause it  seemed  at  all  necessary,  for  I  believe 
Thomas  Butler  to  be  a  man  of  strict  honesty,  but 
because  for  some  reason  I  am  impelled  to  do  so. 

"  I  am  very  tired,  and  I  feel  that  I  must  close. 
God  bless  you,  dear  wife,  and  guard  our  children, 
soon  to  be  fatherless! 

"  Your  loving  husband, 

"  FREDERICK  WALTON/' 

"  P.  S.— Butler  has  left  for  the  East.  This  letter 
I  have  given  to  another  friend  to  mail  after  my 
death." 


CHAPTER    III 

LUKE   FORMS   A   RESOLUTION 

As  Luke  read  this  letter  his  pleasant  face  became 
stern  in  its  expression.  They  had  indeed  been 
cruelly  wronged.  The  large  sum  of  which  they  had 
been  defrauded  would  have  insured  them  comfort 
and  saved  them  from  many  an  anxiety.  His  mother 
would  not  have  been  obliged  to  take  in  sewing,  and 
he  himself  could  have  carried  out  his  cherished 
design  of  obtaining  a  college  education. 

This  man  in  whom  his  father  had  reposed  the 
utmost  confidence  had  been  false  to  his  trust.  He 
had  kept  in  his  own  hands  the  money  which  should 
have  gone  to  the  widow  and  children  of  his  dying 
friend.  Could  anything  be  more  base? 

"  Mother,"  said  Luke,  "  this  man  Thomas  Butler 
must  be  a  villain." 

"  Yes,  Luke ;  he  has  done  us  a  great  wrong." 

"  He  thought,  no  doubt,  that  we  should  never 
hear  of  this  money." 

"  I  almost  wish  I  had  not,  Luke.  It  is  very  tan- 
talizing to  think  how  it  would  have  improved  our 
condition." 

"  Then  you  are  sorry  to  receive  the  letter, 
mother?" 

IS 


14  LUKE   WALTON 

"  No,  Luke.  It  seems  like  a  message  from  the 
dead,  and  shows  me  how  good  and  thoughtful  your 
poor  father  was  to  the  last.  He  meant  to  leave  us 
comfortable." 

"  But  his  plans  were  defeated  by  a  rascal.  Mother, 
I  should  like  to  meet  and  punish  this  Thomas  But- 
ler." 

"  Even  if  you  should  meet  him,  Luke,  you  must 
be  prudent.  He  is  probably  a  rich  man." 

"  Made  so  at  our  expense,"  added  Luke,  bitterly. 

"  And  he  would  deny  having  received  anything 
from  your  father." 

"  Mother,"  said  Luke,  sternly  and  deliberately,  "  I 
feel  sure  that  I  shall  some  day  meet  this  man  face  to 
face,  and  if  I  do  it  will  go  hard  if  I  don't  force  him 
to  give  up  this  money  which  he  has  falsely  con- 
verted to  his  own  use." 

The  boy  spoke  with  calm  and  resolute  dignity, 
hardly  to  be  expected  in  one  so  young,  and  with  a 
deep  conviction  that  surprised  his  mother. 

"  Luke,"  she  said,  "  I  hardly  know  you  to-night. 
You  don't  seem  like  a  boy.  You  speak  like  a  man." 

"  I  feel  so,  mother.  It  is  the  thought  of  this  man, 
triumphant  in  his  crime,  that  makes  me  feel  older 
than  I  am.  Now,  mother,  I  feel  that  I  have  a  pur- 
pose in  life.  It  is  to  find  this  man,  and  punish  him 
for  what  he  has  done,  unless  he  will  make  repara- 
tion." 

Mrs.  Walton  shook  her  head.  It  was  not  from 
her  that  Luke  had  inherited  his  independent  spirit. 


LUKE   WALTON  15 

She  was  a  fond  mother,  of  great  amiability,  but  of 
a  timid,  shrinking  disposition,  which  led  her  to  dep- 
recate any  aggressive  steps. 

"  Promise  me  not  to  get  yourself  into  any  trouble, 
Luke,"  she  said,  "  even  if  you  do  meet  this  man." 

"  I  can't  promise  that,  mother,  for  I  may  not  be 
able  to  help  it.  Besides,  I  haven't  met  him  yet,  and, 
as  President  Lincoln  says,  it  isn't  necessary  to  cross 
a  bridge  till  you  get  to  it.  Now  let  us  talk  of  some- 
thing else." 

"  How  much  did  you  make  to-day,  Luke  ?  "  asked 
Bennie,  his  young  brother,  seven  years  old. 

"  I  didn't  make  my  fortune,  Bennie.  Including 
the  morning  papers,  I  only  made  sixty  cents." 

"  That  seems  a  good  deal  to  me,  Luke,"  said  his 
mother.  "  I  only  made  twenty-five.  They  pay  such 
small  prices  for  making  shirts." 

"  I  should  think  they  did.  And  yet  you  worked 
harder  and  more  steadily  than  I  did,  I  have  no 
doubt." 

"  I  have  worked  since  morning,  probably  about 
eight  hours." 

'  Then  you  have  made  only  three  cents  an  hour. 
What  a  shame !  " 

"  If  I  had  a  sewing  machine,  I  could  do  more, 
but  that  is  beyond  our  means." 

"  I  hope  soon  to  be  able  to  get  you  one,  mother. 
I  can  pay  something  down  and  the  rest  on  install- 
ments." 

"  That  would  be  quite  a  relief,  Luke." 


16  LUKE   WALTON 

"  If  you  had  a  sewing  machine,  perhaps  I  could 
help  you,"  suggested  Bennie. 

"  I  should  hardly  dare  to  let  you  try,  Bennie. 
Suppose  you  spoiled  a  shirt.  It  would  take  off  two 
days'  earnings.  But  I'll  tell  you  what  you  can  do. 
You  can  set  the  table,  and  wash  the  dishes,  and 
relieve  me  in  that  way." 

"  Or  you  might  take  in  washing,"  said  Luke,  with 
a  laugh.  "  That  pays  better  than  sewing.  Just 
imagine  how  nice  it  would  look  in  an  advertisement 
in  the  daily  papers :  '  A  boy  of  seven  is  prepared  to 
wash  and  iron  for  responsible  parties.  Address  Ben- 
nie Walton,  No.  161^2  Green  Street,  near  Milwau- 
kee Avenue.'  " 

"  Now  you  are  laughing  at  me,  Luke,"  said  Ben- 
nie, pouting.  "  Why  don't  you  let  me  go  out  with 
you  and  sell  papers?  I  have  seen  newsboys  no  big- 
ger than  I  am." 

"  I  hope,  Bennie,"  said  Luke,  gravely,  "  you  will 
never  have  to  go  into  the  street  with  papers.  I  know 
what  it  is,  and  how  poor  boys  fare.  One  night  last 
week,  at  the  corner  of  Monroe  and  Clark  Streets,  I 
saw  a  poor  little  chap,  no  older  than  you,  selling 
papers  at  eleven  o'clock.  He  had  a  dozen  papers 
which  he  was  likely  to  have  left  on  his  hands,  for 
there  are  not  many  who  will  buy  papers  at  that 
hour." 

"  Did  you  speak  to  him,  Luke  ?  "  asked  Benny, 
interested. 

"  Yes ;  I  told  him  he  ought  to  go  home.     But  he 


LUKE   WALTON  17 

said  that  if  he  went  home  with  all  those  papers  un- 
sold, his  stepfather  would  whip  him.  There  were 
tears  in  the  poor  boy's  eyes  as  he  spoke." 

"What  did  you  do,  Luke?" 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  I  did,  Bennie.  I  thought  of 
you,  and  I  paid  him  the  cost  price  on  his  papers.  It 
wasn't  much,  for  they  were  all  penny  papers,  but 
the  poor  liitle  fellow  seemed  so  relieved." 

"  Did  you  sell  them  yourself,  Luke  ?  " 

"  I  sold  four  of  them.  I  went  over  to  Madison 
Street,  and  stood  in  front  of  McVicker's  Theater 
just  as  the  people  were  coming  out.  It  so  happened 
that  four  persons  bought  papers,  so  I  was  only  two 
cents  out,  after  all.  You  remember,  mother,  that 
was  the  evening  I  got  home  so  late." 

"  Yes,  Luke,  I  felt  worried  about  you.  But  you 
did  right.  I  am  always  glad  to  have  you  help  those 
who  are  worse  off  than  we  are.  How  terribly  I 
should  feel  if  Bennie  had  to  be  out  late  in  the  streets 
like  that !  " 

"  There  are  many  newsboys  as  young,  or  at  any 
rate  not  much  older.  I  have  sometimes  seen  gentle- 
men, handsomely  dressed,  and  evidently  with  plenty 
of  money,  speak  roughly  to  these  young  boys.  It 
always  makes  me  indignant.  Why  should  they 
have  so  easy  a  time,  while  there  are  so  many  who 
don't  know  where  their  next  meal  is  coming  from? 
Why,  what  such  a  man  spends  for  his  meals  in  a 
single  day  would  support  a  poor  newsboy  in  comfort 
for  a  week." 


i8  LUKE    WALTON 

"  My  dear  Luke,  this  is  a  problem  that  has  puz- 
zled older  and  wiser  heads  than  yours.  There  must 
always  be  poor  people,  but  those  who  are  more  for- 
tunate ought  at  least  to  give  them  sympathy.  It  is 
the  least  acknowledgment  they  can  make  for  their 
own  more  favored  lot." 

"  I  am  going  out  a  little  while  this  evening, 
mother." 

"  Very  well,  Luke.     Don't  be  late." 

"  No,  mother,  I  won't.  I  want  to  call  on  a  friend 
of  mine  who  is  sick." 

"Who  is  it,  Luke?" 

"  It  is  Jim  Norman.  The  poor  boy  took  cold  one 
day,  his  shoes  were  so  far  gone.  He  has  a  bad 
cough,  and  I  am  afraid  it  will  go  very  hard  with 
him." 

"  Is  he  a  newsboy,  too,  Luke  ?  "  asked  Bennie 
Walton. 

"  No ;  he  is  a  bootblack." 

"  I  shouldn't  like  to  black  boots." 

"  Nor  I,  Bennie ;  but  if  a  boy  is  lucky  there  is 
more  money  to  be  made  in  that  business." 

"  Where  does  he  live?  "  asked  Mrs.  Walton. 

"  On  Ohio  Street,  not  very  far  from  here.  There's 
another  boy  I  know  lives  on  that  street — Tom 
Brooks ;  but  he  isn't  a  friend  of  mine.  He  wanted 
me  to  keep  the  five  dollars,  and  treat  him  and  some 
other  boys  to  an  evening  at  the  theater,  and  a  supper 
afterwards." 

"  I  hope  you  won't  associate  with  him,  Luke." 


LUKE   WALTON  19 

"  Not  more  than  I  can  help." 

Luke  took  his  hat  and  went  downstairs  into  the 
street. 

In  the  hall  he  met  Nancy.  She  waylaid  him 
with  an  eager  look  on  her  face. 

"  Who  was  the  letter  from,  Luke  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  From  a  friend  of  the  family,  who  is  now  dead," 
answered  Luke,  gravely. 

"  Good  gracious !  How  could  he  write  it  after 
he  was  dead  ?  "  ejaculated  Nancy.  "  And  how  did 
it  come  to  smell  so  of  tobacco  ?  " 

"  It  was  given  to  a  person  to  mail  who  forgot  all 
about  it,  and  carried  it  in  his  pocket  for  a  year." 

"  My  sakes  alive!  If  I  got  a  letter  from  a  dead 
man  it  would  make  me  creep  all  over.  No  wonder 
your  ma  came  near  faintinV 


CHAPTER  IV 

AN  ATTACK  IN  THE  DARK 

Luke  turned  into  Milwaukee  Avenue,  and  a  few 
steps  took  him  to  West  Ohio  Street,  where  his 
friend  lived.  On  the  way  he  met  Tom  Brooks,  who 
was  lounging  in  front  of  a  cigar  store,  smoking  a 
cigarette. 

"  Good-evening,  Tom,"  said  Luke,  politely. 

"  Evenin' !  "  responded  Tom,  briefly.  "  Where 
you  goin'  ?  " 

"  To  see  Jim  Norman.     He's  sick." 

"  What's  the  matter  of  him  ?  " 

"  He's  got  a  bad  cold,  and  is  confined  to  the 
house." 

Tom  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  I  don't  go  much  on  Jim  Norman,"  he  said. 
"  He  ought  to  be  a  girl.  He  never  smoked  a  cigar- 
ette in  his  life." 

"Didn't  he?  All  the  better  for  him.  I  don't 
smoke  myself." 

"  You  have  smoked." 

"  Yes,  I  used  to,  but  it  troubled  my  mother,  and 
I  promised  her  I  wouldn't  do  it  again." 

"So  you  broke  off?" 


LUKE   WALTON  21 

"  Yes." 

"  I  wouldn't  be  tied  to  a  woman's  apron  strings," 
«aid  Tom,  in  a  derisive  tone. 

M  Wouldn't  you  try  to  oblige  your  mother  ?  " 

"  No,  I  wouldn't.  What  does  a  woman  know 
about  boys?  If  I  was  a  gal  it  would  be  different." 

"  Then  we  don't  agree,  that  is  all." 

"  I  say,  Luke,  won't  you  take  me  to  the 
theayter?" 

"  I  can't  afford  it." 

"  That's  all  bosh !  Haven't  you  got  five  dollars  ? 
I'd  feel  rich  on  five  dollars." 

"  Perhaps  I  might  if  it  were  mine,  but  it  isn't." 

"  You  can  use  it  all  the  same,"  said  Tom,  in  an 
insinuating  voice. 

"  Yes,  I  can  be  dishonest  if  I  choose,  but  I  don't 
choose." 

"  What  Sunday  school  do  you  go  to  ? "  asked 
Tom,  with  a  sneer. 

"  None  at  present." 

"  I  thought  you  did  by  your  talk.  It  makes  me 
sick !  " 

"  Then,"  said  Luke,  good-naturedly,  "  there  is 
no  need  to  listen  to  it.  I  am  afraid  you  are  not 
likely  to  enjoy  my  company,  so  I  will  walk  along." 

Luke  kept  on  his  way,  leaving  Tom  smoking  sul- 
lenly. 

"  That  feller's  a  fool !  "  he  muttered,  in  a  dis- 
gusted tone. 

"What  feller?" 


22  LUKE   WALTON 

Tom  turned,  and  saw  his  friend  and  chum,  Pat 
O'Connor,  who  had  just  come  up. 

"  What  feller?     Why,  Luke  Walton,  of  course." 

"  What's  the  matter  of  him?  " 

"  He's  got  five  dollars,  and  he  won't  pay  me  into 
the  theayter." 

"  Where  did  he  get  such  a  pile  of  money?  "  asked 
Pat,  in  surprise. 

"  A  gentleman  gave  it  to  him  for  a  paper,  tellin' 
him  to  bring  the  change  to-morrer." 

"  Is  he  goin'  to  do  it  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  that's  why  I  call  him  a  fool." 

"  I  wish  you  and  I  had  his  chance,"  said  Pat,  en- 
viously. "  We'd  paint  the  town  red,  I  guess." 

Tom  nodded.  He  and  Pat  were  quite  agreed  on 
that  point. 

"  Where's  Luke  goin'  ?  "  asked  Pat. 

"  To  see  Jim  Norman.     Jim's  sick  with  a  cold." 

"  What  time's  he  comin'  home  ?  " 

"I  don't  know.     Why?" 

"  Do  you  think  he's  got  the  money  with  him — the 
five-dollar  bill?" 

"  What  are  you  up  to?  "  asked  Tom,  with  a  quick 
glance  at  his  companion. 

"  I  was  thinkin'  we  might  borrer  the  money,"  an- 
swered Pat,  with  a  grin. 

To  Tom  this  was  a  new  suggestion,  but  it  was 
favorably  received.  He  conferred  with  Pat  in  a 
low  tone,  and  then  the  two  sauntered  down  the 
street  in  the  direction  of  Jim  Norman's  home. 


LUKE   WALTON  23 

Meanwhile  we  will  follow  Luke. 

He  kept  on  till  he  reached  a  shabby  brick  house, 
which  had  once  seen  better  days,  but  so  far  back 
that  there  was  no  trace  of  them  left. 

Jim  and  his  mother,  with  two  smaller  children, 
occupied  two  small  rooms  on  the  top  floor.  Luke 
had  been  there  before,  and  did  not  stop  to  inquire 
directions,  but  ascended  the  stairs  till  he  came  to 
Jim's  room.  The  door  was  partly  open,  and  he 
walked  in. 

"  How's  Jim,  Mrs.  Norman  ?  "  he  asked. 

Mrs.  Norman,  a  worn  and  weary  woman,  was 
washing  dishes  at  the  sink. 

"  He's  right  sick,  Luke,"  she  answered,  turning 
round,  and  recognizing  the  visitor.  "  Do  you  hear 
him  cough  ?  " 

From  a  small  inner  room  came  the  sound  of  a 
hard  and  rasping  cough. 

"  How  are  you  feeling,  Jim  ?  "  inquired  Luke, 
entering,  and  taking  a  chair  at  the  bedside. 

"  I  don't  feel  any  better,  Luke,"  answered  the 
sick  boy,  his  face  lighting  up  with  pleasure  as  he 
recognized  his  friend.  "  I'm  glad  you  come." 

"  You've  got  a  hard  cough." 

"  Yes ;  it  hurts  my  throat  when  I  cough,  and  I 
can't  get  a  wink  of  sleep." 

"  I've  brought  you  a  little  cough  medicine.  It 
was  some  we  had  in  the  house." 

"  Thank  you,  Luke.  You're  a  good  friend  to  me. 
Give  me  some,  please." 


24  LUKE   WALTON 

"If  your  mother'll  give  me  a  spoon,  I'll  pour 
some  out." 

When  the  medicine  was  taken,  the  boys  began 
to  talk. 

"  I  ought  to  be  at  work,"  said  Jim,  sighing.  "  I 
don't  know  how  we'll  get  along  if  I  don't  get  out 
soon.  Mother  has  some  washing  to  do,  but  it  isn't 
enough  to  pay  all  our  expenses.  I  used  to  bring  in 
seventy-five  cents  a  day,  and  that,  with  what  mother 
could  earn,  kept  us  along." 

"  I  wish  I  was  rich  enough  to  help  you,  Jim,  but 
you  know  how  it  is.  All  I  can  earn  I  have  to  carry 
home.  My  mother  sews  for  a  house  on  State  Street, 
but  sewing  doesn't  pay  as  well  as  washing." 

"  I  know  you'd  help  me  if  you  could,  Luke.  You 
have  helped  me  by  bringing  in  the  medicine,  and  it 
does  me  good  to  have  you  call." 

"  But  I  would  like  to  do  more.  I'll  tell  you  what 
I  will  do.  I  know  a  rich  gentleman,  one  of  my 
customers.  I  am  to  call  upon  him  to-morrow.  I'll 
tell  him  about  you,  and  perhaps  he  will  help  you." 

"  Any  help  would  be  acceptable,  Luke,  if  you  don't 
mind  asking  him." 

"  I  wouldn't  like  to  ask  for  myself,  but  I  don't 
mind  asking  for  you." 

Luke  stayed  an  hour,  and  left  Jim  much  brighter 
and  more  cheerful  for  his  visit. 

When  he  went  out  into  the  street  it  was  quite 
dark,  although  the  moon  now  and  then  peeped  out 
from  behind  the  clouds  that  a  brisk  breeze  sent 


LUKE   WALTON  25 

scurrying  across  the  sky.  Having  a  slight  head- 
ache, he  thought  he  would  walk  it  off,  so  he  saun- 
tered slowly  in  the  direction  of  the  business  portion 
of  the  city. 

Walking  farther  than  he  intended,  he  found  him- 
self, almost  before  he  was  aware,  crossing  one  of  the 
numerous  bridges  that  span  the  river.  He  was 
busy  with  thoughts  of  Jim,  and  how  he  could  help 
him,  and  did  not  notice  that  two  boys  were  follow- 
ing him  stealthily.  It  was  a  complete  surprise  to 
him  therefore  when  they  rushed  upon  him,  and, 
each  seizing  an  arm,  rendering  him  helpless. 

Luke  was  not  long  left  in  doubt  as  to  their  inten- 
tions. 

"  Hand  over  what  money  you've  got,  and  be  quick 
about  it !  "  demanded  one  of  the  boys  in  a  hoarse 
whisper. 


CHAPTER  V 

HOW   LUKE   ESCAPED 

The  attack  was  so  sudden  and  unexpected  that 
Luke  was  for  the  moment  incapable  of  resistance, 
though  in  general  quite  ready  to  defend  himself. 
It  was  not  till  he  felt  a  hand  in  his  pocket  that  he 
"  puiled  himself  together,"  as  the  English  express 
it,  and  began  to  make  things  lively  for  his  assailants. 

"  What  are  you  after  ?  "  he  demanded.  "  Do  you 
want  to  rob  me  ?  " 

"  Give  us  the  money,  and  be  quick  about  it." 

"  How  do  you  know  I  have  any  money  ?  "  asked 
Luke,  beginning  to  suspect  in  whose  hands  he  was. 

"  Never  mind  how !  Hand  over  that  five-dollar 
bill,"  was  the  reply,  in  the  same  hoarse  whisper. 

"  I  know  you  now.  You're  Tom  Brooks,"  said 
Luke.  "  You're  in  bad  business." 

"  No,  I'm  not  Tom  Brooks."  It  was  Pat  who 
spoke  now.  "  Come,  we  have  no  time  to  lose. 
Stephen,  give  me  your  knife." 

The  name  was  a  happy  invention  of  Pat's  to 
throw  Luke  off  the  scent.  He  was  not  himself 
acquainted  with  our  hero,  and  did  not  fear  identi- 
fication. 

26 


LUKE   WALTON  27 

"  One  of  you  two  is  Tom  Brooks,"  said  Luke, 
firmly.  "  You'd  better  give  up  this  attempt  at  high- 
way robbery.  If  I  summon  an  officer  you're  liable 
to  a  long  term  of  imprisonment.  I'll  save  you 
trouble  by  telling  you  that  I  haven't  any  money  with 
me,  except  a  few  pennies." 

"  Where's  the  five-dollar  bill?  " 

It  was  Tom  who  spoke  now. 

"  I  left  it  at  home  with  my  mother.  It's  lucky 
I  did,  though  you  would  have  found  it  hard  to  get 
it  from  me." 

"  I  don't  believe  it,"  said  Tom,  in  a  tone  betraying 
disappointment. 

"  You  may  search  me  if  you  like ;  but  if  a  police- 
man comes  by  you'd  better  take  to  your  heels." 

The  boys  appeared  disconcerted. 

"  Is  he  lying?  "  asked  Pat. 

"  No,"  responded  Tom.  "  He'd  own  up  if  he 
had  the  money." 

"  Thank  you  for  believing  me.  It  is  very  evident 
that  one  of  you  knows  me.  Good-night.  You'd 
better  find  some  other  way  of  getting  money." 

"  Wait  a  minute!  Are  you  going  to  tell  on  us? 
It  wouldn't  be  fair  to  Tom  Brooks.  He  ain't  here, 
but  you  might  get  him  into  trouble." 

"  I  shan't  get  you  into  trouble,  Tom,  but  I'm 
afraid  you  bring  trouble  on  yourself." 

Apparently  satisfied  with  this  promise,  the  two 
boys  slunk  away  in  the  darkness,  and  Luke  was  left 
to  proceed  on  his  way  unmolested. 


a8  LUKE   WALTON 

"  I  wouldn't  have  believed  that  of  Tom,"  thought 
Luke.  "  I'm  sorry  it  happened.  If  it  had  been 
anyone  but  me,  and  a  cop  had  come  by,  it  would 
have  gone  hard  with  him.  It's  lucky  I  left  the 
money  with  mother,  though  I  don't  think  they'd 
have  got  it  at  any  rate." 

Luke  did  not  acquaint  his  mother  with  the  at- 
tempt that  had  been  made  to  rob  him.  He  well 
knew  that  it  would  have  made  her  very  anxious  for 
him  whenever  he  left  the  house.  He  merely  told 
of  his  visit  and  of  the  sad  plight  of  the  little  boot- 
black. 

"  I  would  like  to  have  helped  him,  mother," 
Luke  concluded.  "  If  we  hadn't  been  robbed  of  that 
money  father  sent  us " 

"  We  could  afford  the  luxury  of  doing  good,"  said 
his  mother,  finishing  the  sentence  for  him. 

Luke's  face  darkened  with  justifiable  anger. 

"  I  know  it  is  wrong  to  hate  anyone,  mother,"  he 
said ;  "  but  I  am  afraid  I  hate  that  man  Thomas 
Butler  whom  I  have  never  seen." 

"  It  is  sometimes  hard  to  feel  like  a  Christian, 
Luke,"  said  his  mother. 

"  This  man  must  be  one  of  the  meanest  of  men. 
No  doubt  he  is  living  in  luxury  while  we  are  living 
from  hand  to  mouth.  Suppose  you  or  I  should  fall 
sick !  What  would  become  of  us  ?  " 

"  We  won't  borrow  trouble,  Luke.  Let  us  rather 
thank  God  for  our  present  good  health.  If  I  should 
be  sick  it  would  not  be  as  serious  as  if  you  were  to 


LUKE   WALTON  29 

become  so,  for  you  earn  more  than  twice  as  much 
as  I  do." 

"  It  ought  not  to  be  so,  mother,  for  you  work 
harder  than  I  do." 

"  When  I  get  a  sewing  machine  I  shall  be  able 
to  contribute  more  to  the  common  fund." 

"  I  hope  that  will  be  soon.  Has  Bennie  gone  to 
bed?" 

"  Yes,  he  is  fast  asleep." 

"  I  hope  fortune  will  smile  on  us  before  he  is  much 
older  than  I.  I  can't  bear  the  idea  of  sending  him 
into  the  street  among  bad  boys." 

"  I  have  been  accustomed  to  judge  of  the  news- 
boys by  my  son.  Are  there  many  bad  boys  among 
them?" 

"  Many  of  them  are  honest,  hard-working  boys, 
but  there  are  some  black  sheep  among  them.  I 
know  one  boy  who  tried  to  commit  highway  robbery, 
stopping  a  person  whom  he  had  seen  with  money." 

"  Did  he  get  caught  ?  " 

"  No,  he  failed  of  his  purpose,  and  no  complaint 
was  made  of  him,  though  his  intended  victim  knew 
who  his  assailant  was." 

"  I  am  glad  of  that.  It  would  have  been  hard  for 
his  poor  mother  if  he  had  been  convicted  and  sent 
to  prison." 

This  Mrs.  Walton  said  without  a  suspicion  that 
it  was  Luke  that  the  boy  had  tried  to  rob.  When 
Luke  heard  his  mother's  comment  he  was  glad  that 
he  had  agreed  to  overlook  Tom's  fault. 


30  LUKE   WALTON 

The  next  morning  Luke  went  as  usual  to  the 
vicinity  of  the  Sherman  House,  and  began  to  sell 
papers.  He  looked  in  vain  for  Tom  Brooks,  who 
did  not  show  up. 

"  Where  is  Tom  Brooks  ?  "  he  asked  of  one  of 
Tom's  friends. 

"  Tom's  goin'  to  try  another  place,"  said  the  boy. 
"  He  says  there's  too  many  newsboys  round  this 
corner.  He  thinks  he  can  do  better  somewheres 
else." 

"  Where  is  he  ?     Do  you  know  ?  " 

"  I  seed  him  near  the  corner  of  Dearborn,  in 
front  of  the  '  Saratoga/  " 

"  The  Saratoga  "  is  a  well-known  restaurant  on 
Dearborn  Street,  which  is  the  financial  street  of 
Chicago,  and  given  up  largely  to  bankers,  brokers, 
and  trust  companies. 

"  Well,  I  hope  he'll  make  out  well,"  said  Luke. 

Luke  had  the  five-dollar  bill  in  his  pocket,  but 
he  knew  that  it  was  too  early  for  the  offices  on  La 
Salle  Street  to  be  open.  He  decided  to  wait  till 
about  ten  o'clock,  when  he  might  be  reasonably  sure 
to  find  Mr.  Afton. 

Luke's  stock  of  morning  papers  included  the  Chi- 
cago Tribune,  the  Times,  Herald,  and  Inter-Ocean. 
He  seldom  disposed  of  his  entire  stock  as  early  as 
ten  o'clock,  but  this  morning  another  newsboy  in 
addition  to  Tom  was  absent,  and  Luke  experienced 
the  advantage  of  diminished  competition.  As  he 
sold  the  last  paper  the  clock  struck  ten. 


LUKE   WALTON  31 

"  I  think  it  will  do  for  me  to  go  to  Mr.  Afton's 
office  now,"  thought  Luke.  "  If  I  don't  find  him  in 
I  will  wait." 

La  Salle  Street  runs  parallel  with  Clark.  It  is 
a  busy  thoroughfare,  and  contains  many  buildings 
cut  up  into  offices.  This  was  the  case  with  No. 

155- 

Luke  entered  the  building  and  scanned  the  direc- 
tory on  either  side  of  the  door.  He  had  no  diffi- 
culty in  finding  the  name  of  Benjamin  Afton. 

He  had  to  go  up  two  flights  of  stairs,  for  Mr. 
Afton's  office  was  on  the  third  floor. 


CHAPTER  VI 
MR.  AFTON'S  OFFICE 

Mr.  Afton's  office  was  of  unusual  size,  and 
fronted  on  La  Salle  Street.  As  Luke  entered  he 
observed  that  it  was  furnished  better  than  the  ordi- 
nary business  -office.  Indeed,  it  seemed  to  the  occu- 
pant the  part  of  wisdom  to  make  the  room  where  he 
spent  so  many  hours  of  his  time  as  comfortable  and 
even  as  luxurious  as  his  means  would  justify.  On 
the  floor  was  a  handsome  Turkey  carpet.  The  desks 
were  of  some  rich  dark  wood,  and  the  chairs  were  as 
costly  as  those  in  his  library.  In  a  closed  bookcase 
at  one  end  of  the  room,  surmounted  by  bronze 
statuettes,  was  a  full  library  of  reference. 

At  one  desk  stood  a  tall  man,  perhaps  thirty-five, 
with  red  hair  and  prominent  features.  At  another 
desk  was  a  young  fellow  of  eighteen,  bearing  a 
marked  resemblance  to  the  head  bookkeeper.  There 
was  besides  a  young  man  of  perhaps  twenty-two, 
sitting  at  a  table,  apparently  filing  bills. 

"  Mr.  Afton  must  be  a  rich  man  to  have  such  an 
elegant  office,"  thought  Luke. 

The  red-haired  bookkeeper  did  not  take  the 
trouble  to  look  up  to  see  who  had  entered  the  office. 


LUKE   WALTON  33 

"  Is  Mr.  Afton  in  ?  "  Luke  asked,  in  a  respectful 
tone. 

The  bookkeeper  raised  his  eyes  for  a  moment, 
glanced  at  Luke  with  a  supercilious  air,  and  said 
curtly,  "  No !  " 

"  Do  you  know  when  he  will  be  in?  "  continued 
the  newsboy. 

"  Quite  indefinite.     What  is  your  business,  boy?  " 

"  My  business  is  with  Mr.  Afton,"  Luke  an- 
swered. 

"  Humph !  is  it  of  an  important  nature  ?  "  asked 
the  bookkeeper  with  a  sneer,  as  he  remarked  the 
plain,  well-worn  suit  of  the  young  visitor. 

Luke  smiled. 

"  It  is  not  very  important,"  he  answered,  "  but 
I  wish  to  see  Mr.  Afton  personally." 

"  Whose  office  are  you  in  ?  " 

"  He  isn't  in  any  office,  Uncle  Nathaniel,"  put  in 
the  red-haired  boy.  "  He  is  a  common  newsboy. 
I  see  him  every  morning  round  the  Sherman 
House." 

"Ha!  is  that  so?  Boy,  we  don't  want  to  buy 
any  papers,  nor  does  Mr.  Afton,  I  am  sure.  You 
can  go." 

As  the  bookkeeper  spoke  he  pointed  to  the  door. 

"  I  have  no  papers  to  sell,"  said  Luke,  rather  pro- 
voked ;  "  but  I  come  here  on  business  with  Mr. 
Afton,  and  will  take  the  liberty  to  wait  till  he 
comes." 

"  Oh,  my  eyes!     Ain't  he  got  cheek?  "  ejaculated 


34  LUKE   WALTON 

the  red-haired  boy.  "  I  say,  boy,  do  you  black 
boots  as  well  as  sell  papers  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't." 

"  Some  of  the  newsboys  do.  I  thought,  perhaps, 
you  had  got  a  job  to  black  Mr.  Af ton's  boots 
every  morning." 

Luke,  who  was  a  spirited  boy,  was  fast  getting 
angry. 

"  I  don't  want  to  interfere  with  you  in  any  way,'' 
he  said. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  demanded  the  red-haired 
boy,  his  cheeks  rivaling  his  hair  in  color. 

"  I  thought  that  might  be  one  of  your  duties." 

"  Why,  you  impudent  young  vagabond !  Uncle 
Nathaniel,  did  you  hear  that  ?  " 

"  Boy,  you  had  better  go,"  said  the  bookkeeper, 
waving  his  hand. 

"  You  can  leave  your  card,"  added  Eustis  Clark, 
the  nephew. 

Now  it  so  happened  that  a  friend  of  Luke's  had 
printed  and  given  him  a  dozen  cards  a  few  days 
previous,  and  he  had  them  in  his  pocket  at  that 
moment. 

"  Thank  you  for  the  suggestion,"  he  said,  and 
walking  up  to  the  boy's  desk  he  deposited  on  it  a 
card  bearing  this  name  in  neat  script : 

LUKE  WALTON. 

"  Be  kind  enough  to  hand  that  to  Mr.  Afton,"  he 
said. 


LUKE   WALTON  35 

Eustis  held  up  the  card,  and  burst  into  a  guffaw. 

"  Well,  I  never !  "  he  ejaculated.  "  No,  I  never 
did.  Mr.  Walton,  your  most  obedient,"  he  con- 
cluded, with  a  ceremonious  bow. 

"  The  same  to  you !  "  said  Luke,  with  a  smile, 

"  I  never  saw  a  newsboy  put  on  such  airs  be- 
fore," he  said,  as  Luke  left  the  office.  "  Did  you, 
Uncle  Nathaniel?  Do  you  think  he  really  had  any 
business  with  the  boss  ?  " 

"  Probably  he  wanted  to  supply  the  office  with 
papers.  Now  stop  fooling,  and  go  to  work." 

"  They  didn't  seem  very  glad  to  see  me,"  thought 
Luke.  "  I  want  to  see  Mr.  Afton  this  morning, 
or  he  may  think  that  I  have  not  kept  my  word  about 
the  money." 

Luke  stationed  himself  in  the  doorway  at  the 
entrance  to  the  building,  meaning  to  intercept  Mr. 
Afton  as  he  entered  from  the  street.  He  had  to 
wait  less  than  ten  minutes.  Mr.  Afton  smiled  in 
instant  recognition  as  he  saw  Luke,  and  seemed 
glad  to  see  him. 

"  I  am  glad  the  boy  justified  my  idea  of  him," 
he  said  to  himself.  "  I  would  have  staked  a  thou- 
sand dollars  on  his  honesty.  Such  a  face  as  that 
doesn't  belong  to  a  rogue." 

"  I  am  rather  late,"  he  said.  "  Have  you  been 
here  long?  " 

"  Not  very  long,  sir ;  I  have  been  up  in  your 
office." 

"Why  didn't  you  sit  down  and  wait  for  me?" 


36  LUKE    WALTON 

"  I  don't  think  the  red-haired  gentleman  cared 
to  have  me.  The  boy  asked  me  to  leave  my 
card." 

Mr.  Afton  looked  amused. 

"  And  did  you  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Do  you  generally  carry  visiting  cards  ?  "  asked 
Mr.  Afton,  in  some  surprise. 

"  Well,  I  happened  to  have  some  with  me  this 
morning." 

"  Please  show  me  one.  So  your  name  is  Luke 
Walton  ?  "  he  added,  glancing  at  the  card. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  office  corner  Clark  and  Randolph 
Streets." 

"  I  will  keep  the  card  and  bear  it  in  mind." 

"  I  have  brought  your  change,  sir,"  said  Luke, 
putting  his  hand  in  his  pocket. 

"  You  can  come  upstairs  and  pay  it  to  me  in  the 
office.  It  will  be  more  business-like." 

Luke  was  glad  to  accept  the  invitation,  for  it 
would  prove  to  the  skeptical  office  clerks  that  he 
really  had  business  with  their  employer. 

Eustis  Clark  and  his  uncle  could  not  conceal  their 
surprise  when  they  saw  Luke  follow  Mr.  Afton 
into  the  office. 

There  was  a  smaller  room  inclosed  at  one  corner, 
which  was  especially  reserved  for  Mr.  Afton. 

"  Come  here,  Luke,"  said  he,  pleasantly. 

Luke  followed  him  inside. 

He  drew  from  his  pocket  four  dollars  and  ninety- 


LUKE    WALTON  37 

eight  cents,  and  laid  it  on  the  table  behind  which 
his  patron  had  taken  a  seat. 

"  Won't  you  please  count  it  and  see  if  it  is 
right  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  can  see  that  it  is,  Luke.  I  am  afraid  I  have 
put  you  to  more  trouble  than  the  profit  on  the  two 
papers  I  bought  would  pay  for." 

"  Not  at  all,  sir.  Besides,  it's  all  in  the  way  of 
business.  I  thank  you  for  putting  confidence  in 
me." 

"  I  thought  I  was  not  mistaken  in  you,  and  the 
result  shows  that  I  was  right.  .  My  boy,  I  saw  that 
you  had  an  honest  face.  I  am  sure  that  the  thought 
of  keeping  back  the  money  never  entered  your 
head." 

"  No,  sir,  it  did  not,  though  one  of  the  newsboys 
advised  me  to  keep  it." 

"  It  would  have  been  very  short-sighted  as  a  mat- 
ter of  policy.  I  will  take  this  money,  but  I  want  to 
encourage  you  in  the  way  of  well-doing." 

He  drew  from  his  vest  pocket  a  bill,  and  ex- 
tended it  to  Luke. 

"  It  isn't  meant  as  a  reward  for  honesty,  but 
only  as  a  mark  of  the  interest  I  have  begun  to  feel 
in  you." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Luke ;  and  as  he  took  the 
bill,  he  started  in  surprise,  for  it  was  ten  dollars. 

"  Did  you  mean  to  give  as  much  as  this  ?  "  he 
asked  doubtfully. 

"How  much  is  it?" 


38  LUKE   WALTON 

"  Ten  dollars." 

"  I  thought  it  was  five,  but  I  am  glad  it  is  more. 
Yes,  Luke,  you  are  welcome  to  it.  Have  you  any- 
one dependent  upon  you?" 

"  My  mother.     She  will  be  very  much  pleased." 

"  That's  right,  my  lad.  Always  look  out  for 
your  mother.  You  owe  her  a  debt  which  you  can 
never  repay." 

"  That  is  true,  sir.  But  I  would  like  to  use  a 
part  of  this  money  for  someone  else." 

"For  yourself?" 

"No;  fora  friend." 

Then  he  told  in  simple  language  of  Jim  Norman, 
and  how  seriously  his  family  was  affected  by  his 
sickness  and  enforced  illness. 

"  Jim  has  no  money  to  buy  medicine,"  he  con- 
cluded. "  If  you  don't  object,  Mr.  Afton,  I  will 
give  Jim's  mother  half  this  money,  after  buying 
some  cough  medicine  out  of  it." 

The  merchant  listened  with  approval. 

"  I  am  glad,  Luke,  you  feel  for  others,"  he 
said,  "  but  I  can  better  afford  to  help  your  friend 
than  you.  Here  is  a  five-dollar  bill.  Tell  the  boy 
it  is  from  a  friend,  and  if  he  should  need  more  let 
me  know." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Luke,  fairly  radiant  as 
he  thought  of  Jim's  delight.  "  I  won't  take  up  any 
more  of  your  time,  but  will  bid  you  good-morning." 

Probably  Mr.  Afton  wished  to  give  his  clerks  a 
lesson,  for  he  followed  Luke  to  the  door  of  the 


LUKE   WALTON  39 

outer  office,  and  shook  hands  cordially  with  him, 
saying :  "  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  you  call,  when  you 
wish  to  see  me,  Luke ;  "  adding,  "  I  may  possibly 
have  some  occasional  work  for  you  to  do.  If  so,  I 
know  where  to  find  you." 

"Thank  you,  sir." 

"  What's  got  into  the  old  man  ?  "  thought  Eustis 
Clark.  "  He  treats  that  young  ragamuffin  as 
if  he  were  the  president  of  the  bank.  No  wonder 
the  boy  puts  on  airs  and  carries  visiting  cards." 

As  Mr.  Afton  returned  to  his  sanctum,  Eustis 
said  with  a  grin,  holding  up  the  card : 

"  Mr.  Walton  left  his  card  for  you,  thinking  you 
might  not  be  in  time  to  see  him." 

"  Give  it  to  me,  if  you  please,"  and  the  rich  man 
took  the  card  without  a  smile,  and  put  it  into  his 
vest  pocket,  not  seeming  in  the  least  surprised. 

"  Mr.  Walton  called  to  pay  me  some  money,"  he 
said,  gravely.  "  Whenever  he  calls  invite  him  to 
wait  till  my  return." 

"  Well,  I  never  did !  "  ejaculated  Eustis,  rubbing 
an  imaginary  mustache  in  his  perplexity.  "  To 
treat  a  common  newsboy  that  way!  I  wonder  if 
the  old  man's  losing  his  intellect." 


CHAPTER  VII 

A  STRANGE  ENCOUNTER 

Luke  went  home  that  evening  in  high  spirits. 
The  gift  he  had  received  from  Mr.  Afton  enabled 
him  to  carry  out  a  plan  he  had  long  desired  to  re- 
alize, but  had  been  prevented  from  so  doing  by 
poverty.  It  was  to  secure  a  sewing  machine  for 
his  mother,  and  thus  increase  her  earnings  while 
diminishing  her  labors.  He  stopped  at  an  estab- 
lishment not  far  from  Clark  Street,  and  entering 
the  showroom,  asked :  "  What  is  the  price  of  your 
sewing  machines?  " 

"  One  in  a  plain  case  will  cost  you  twenty-five 
dollars." 

"  Please  show  me  one." 

"  Do  you  want  it  for  your  wife  ? "  asked  the 
salesman,  smiling. 

"  She  may  use  it  some  time.  My  mother  will 
use  it  first." 

The  salesman  pointed  out  an  instrument  with 
which  Luke  was  well  pleased. 

"  Would  you  like  to  see  how  it  works  ?  " 

"Yes,  please." 

"  Miss  Morris,  please  show  this  young  man  how 
to  operate  the  machine." 

40 


LUKE   WALTON  41 

In  the  course  of  ten  minutes  Luke  got  a  fair  idea 
of  the  method  of  operating. 

"Do  you  require  the  whole  amount  down?" 
asked  Luke. 

"  No ;  we  sell  on  installments,  if  preferred." 

"  What  are  your  terms  ?  " 

"  Five  dollars  first  payment,  and  then  a  dollar  a 
week,  with  interest  on  the  balance  till  paid.  Of 
course  a  customer  is  at  liberty  to  shorten  the  time 
of  payment  if  he  prefers." 

"  Then  I  think  I  will  engage  one,"  Luke  decided. 

"  Very  well !  Come  up  to  the  desk,  and  give 
me  your  name  and  address.  On  payment  of  five 
dollars,  we  will  give  you  a  receipt  on  account,  speci- 
fying the  terms  of  paying  the  balance,  etc." 

Luke  transacted  his  business,  and  made  arrange- 
ments to  have  the  machine  delivered  any  time  after 
six  o'clock,  when  he  knew  he  would  be  at  home. 

"  That's  a  good  job,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  And 
the  best  of  it  is,  I've  got  five  dollars  left,  to  fall  back 
upon  in  case  of  bad  luck.  It  will  pay  five  weeks' 
installments,  if  I  don't  succeed  in  saving  enough 
in  any  other  way." 

As  Luke  was  coming  out  of  the  sewing-machine 
office  he  saw  Tom  Brooks  just  passing.  Tom 
looked  a  little  uneasy,  not  feeling  certain  whether 
Luke  had  recognized  him  as  one  of  his  assailant* 
or  not  the  evening  previous. 

Luke  felt  that  he  had  a  right  to  be  angry.  In- 
deed, he  had  it  in  his  power  to  have  Tom  arrested, 


42  LUKE   WALTON 

and  charged  with  a  very  serious  crime — that  of 
highway  robbery.  But  his  good  luck  made  him 
good-natured. 

"  Good-evening,  Tom,"  he  said.  "  I  didn't  see 
you  selling  papers  to-day." 

"  No ;  I  was  on  Dearborn  Street. 

"  He  doesn't  know  it  was  me,"  thought  Tom, 
congratulating  himself,  and  added :  "  Have  you 
been  buying  a  sewing  machine  ?  " 

This  was  said  in  joke. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Luke,  considerably  to  Tom's 
surprise.  "  I  have  bought  one." 

"How  much?" 

"  Twenty-five  dollars." 

"Where  did  you  raise  twenty-five  dollars? 
You're  foolin'." 

"  I  bought  it  on  the  installment  plan.  I  paid  five 
dollars  down." 

"Oho!"  said  Tom,  nodding  significantly.  "I 
know  where  you  got  that  money  ?  " 

"Where  did  I?" 

"  From  the  gentleman  that  bought  a  couple  of 
papers  yesterday." 

"  You  hit  it  right  the  first  time." 

"  I  thought  you  weren't  no  better  than  the  rest  of 
us — you  that  pretended  to  be  so  extra  honest." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that,  Tom  Brooks  ?  " 

"  You  pretended  that  you  were  going  to  give  back 
the  man's  change,  and  spent  it,  after  all.  I  thought 
you  weren't  such  a  saint  as  you  pretended  to  be." 


LUKE   WALTON  43 

"  I  see  you  keep  on  judging  me  by  yourself,  Tom 
Brooks.  I  took  round  the  money  this  morning, 
and  he  gave  it  to  me." 

"Is  that  true?" 

"  Yes ;  I  generally  tell  the  truth." 

"  Then  you're  lucky.  If  I'd  returned  it,  he 
wouldn't  have  given  me  a  cent." 

"  It's  best  to  be  honest  on  all  occasions,"  said 
Luke,  looking  significantly  at  Tom,  who  colored 
up,  for  he  now  saw  that  he  had  been  recognized 
the  night  before. 

Tom  sneaked  off  on  some  pretext,  and  Luke  kept 
on  his  way  home. 

"  Did  you  do  well  to-day,  Luke  ?  "  asked  Ben- 
nie. 

"  Yes,  Bennie ;  very  well." 

"  How  much  did  you  make  ?  " 

"  I'll  tell  you  by  and  by.  Mother,  can  I  help  you 
about  the  supper  ?  " 

"  You  may  toast  the  bread,  Luke.  I  am  going 
to  have  your  favorite  dish — milk  toast." 

"  All  right,  mother.  Have  you  been  sewing  to- 
day?" 

"  Yes,  Luke.  I  sat  so  long  in  one  position  that  I 
got  cramped." 

"  I  wish  you  had  a  sewing  machine." 

"  So  do  I,  Luke ;  but  I  must  be  patient.  A  sew- 
ing machine  costs  more  money  than  we  can  afford." 

"  One  can  be  got  for  twenty-five  dollars,  I  have 
heard." 


44  LUKE   WALTON 

"  That  is  a  good  deal  of  money  to  people  in  our 
position." 

"  We  may  as  well  hope  for  one.  I  shouldn't  be 
surprised  if  we  were  able  to  buy  a  sewing1  machine 
very  soon." 

Meanwhile  Luke  finished  toasting  the  bread,  and 
his  mother  was  dipping  it  in  milk  when  a  rapid  step 
was  heard  on  the  stairway,  the  door  was  unceremo- 
niously opened,  and  Nancy's  red  head  was  thrust 
into  the  room. 

"  Please,  Mrs.  Walton,"  said  Nancy,  breathlessly, 
"  there's  a  man  downstairs  with  a  sewing  machine 
which  he  says  is  for  you." 

'  There  must  be  some  mistake,  Nancy.  I  haven't 
ordered  any  sewing  machine." 

"  Shall  I  send  him  off,  ma'am?" 

"  No,  Nancy,"  said  Luke ;  "  it's  all  right.  I'll  go 
downstairs  and  help  him  bring  it  up." 

"  How  is  this,  Luke  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Walton,  be- 
wildered. 

"  I'll  explain  afterwards,  mother." 

Up  the  stairs  and  into  the  room  came  the  sewing 
machine,  and  was  set  down  near  the  window.  Ben- 
nie  surveyed  it  with  wonder  and  admiration. 

When  the  man  who  brought  it  was  gone,  Luke 
explained  to  his  mother  how  it  had  all  come  about. 

"  You  see,  mother,  you  didn't  have  to  wait  long," 
he  concluded. 

"  I  feel  deeply  thankful,  Luke,"  said  Mrs.  Wal- 
ton. "  I  can  do  three  times  the  work  I  have  been 


LUKE   WALTON  45 

accustomed  to  do,  and  in  much  less  time.  This 
Mr.  Afton  must  be  a  kind  and  charitable  man." 

"  I  like  him  better  than  his  clerks,"  said  Luke. 
"  There  is  a  red-headed  bookkeeper  and  a  boy 
there  who  tried  to  snub  me,  and  keep  me  out  of  the 
office.  I  try  to  think  well  of  red-headed  people  on 
account  of  Nancy,  but  I  can't  say  I  admire  them." 

After  supper  Luke  gave  his  mother  a  lesson  in 
operating  the  machine.  Both  found  that  it  re- 
quired a  little  practice,  but  Mrs.  Walton  felt  sure 
that  in  a  day  or  two  she  would  become  familiar 
with  its  use. 

The  next  morning  as  Luke  was  standing  at  his 
usual  corner,  he  had  a  surprise. 

A  gentleman  came  out  of  the  Sherman  House 
and  walked  slowly  up  Clark  Street.  As  he  passed 
Luke,  he  stopped  and  asked,  "  Boy,  have  you  the 
Inter-Ocean?" 

Luke  naturally  looked  up  in  his  customer's  face 
'.vhile  he  was  picking  out  the  paper.  He  paused  in 
the  greatest  excitement. 

The  man  was  on  the  shady  side  of  fifty,  nearly 
six  feet  in  height,  with  a  dark  complexion,  hair 
tinged  with  gray,  and  a  wart  on  the  upper  part  of 
his  right  cheek! 


CHAPTER  VIII 

A    MARKED    MAN 

At  last,  so  Luke  verily  believed,  he  stood  face 
to  face  with  the  man  who  had  deceived  his  dying 
father,  and  defrauded  his  mother  and  himself  of 
a  sum  which  would  wholly  change  their  positions 
and  prospects.  But  he  wanted  to  know  positively, 
and  he  could  not  think  of  a  way  to  acquire  this 
knowledge. 

Meanwhile  the  gentleman  noticed  the  boy's  scru- 
tiny, and  it  did  not  please  him. 

"  Well,  boy !  "  he  said  gruffly,  "  you  seem  deter- 
mined to  know  me  again.  You  stare  hard  enough. 
Let  me  tell  you  this  is  not  good  manners." 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  Luke,  "  but  your  face  looked 
familiar  to  me.  I  thought  I  had  seen  you  before." 

"  Very  likely  you  have.  I  come  to  Chicago  fre- 
quently, and  generally  stop  at  the  Sherman  House." 

"  Probably  that  explains  it,"  said  Luke.  "  Are 
you  not  Mr.  Thomas,  of  St.  Louis  ?  " 

The  gentleman  laughed. 

"  You  will  have  to  try  again,"  he  said.  "  I  am 
Mr.  Browning,  of  Milwaukee.  Thomas  is  my  first 
name." 

46 


LUKE   WALTON  47 

"  Browning  ! "  thought  Luke,  disappointed. 
"  Evidently  I  am  on  the  wrong  track.  And  yet  he 
answers  father's  description  exactly." 

"  I  don't  know  anyone  in  Milwaukee,"  he  said 
aloud. 

"  Then  it  appears  we  can't  claim  acquaintance." 

The  gentleman  took  his  paper  and  turned  down 
Randolph  Street  toward  State. 

"  Strange !  "  he  soliloquized,  "  that  boy's  interest 
in  my  personal  appearance.  I  wonder  if  there  can 
be  a  St.  Louis  man  who  resembles  me.  If  so,  he 
can't  be  a  very  good-looking  man.  This  miserable 
wart  ought  to  be  enough  to  distinguish  me  from 
anyone  else." 

He  paused  a  minute,  and  then  a  new  thought 
came  into  his  mind. 

"  There  is  something  familiar  in  that  boy's  face. 
I  wonder  who  he  can  be.  I  will  buy  my  evening 
papers  of  him,  and  take  that  opportunity  to  in- 
quire." 

'Meanwhile  Luke,  to  satisfy  a  doubt  in  his  mind, 
entered  the  hotel,  and,  going  up  to  the  office,  looked 
over  the  list  of  arrivals.  He  had  to  turn  back  a 
couple  of  pages  and  found  this  entry : 

"  THOMAS  BROWNING,  Milwaukee." 

"  His  name  is  Browning,  and  he  does  come  from 
Milwaukee,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  I  thought,  per- 
haps, he  might  have  given  me  a  false  name,  though 
he  could  have  no  reason  for  doing  so." 


48  LUKE   WALTON 

Luke  felt  that  he  must  look  farther  for  the  man 
who  had  betrayed  his  father's  confidence. 

"  I  didn't  think  there  could  be  two  men  of  such 
a  peculiar  appearance,"  he  reflected.  "  Surely  there 
can't  be  three.  If  I  meet  another  who  answers  the 
description  I  shall  be  convinced  that  he  is  the  man 
I  am  after." 

In  the  afternoon  the  same  man  approached  Luke, 
as  he  stood  on  his  accustomed  corner. 

"  You  may  give  me  the  Mail  and  Journal,"  he 
said. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  here  they  are.    Three  cents." 

"  I  believe  you  are  the  boy  who  recognized  me, 
or  thought  you  did,  this  morning." 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  If  you  ever  run  across  this  Mr.  Thomas,  of  St. 
Louis,  present  him  my  compliments,  will  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Luke,  with  a  smile. 

"  By  the  way,  what  is  your  name  ?  " 

"Luke  Walton." 

The  gentleman  started. 

"  Luke  Walton !  "  he  repeated,  slowly,  eying  the 
newsboy  with  a  still  closer  scrutiny. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  It's  a  new  name  to  me.  Can't  your  father  find 
a  better  business  for  you  than  selling  papers  ?  " 

"  My  father  is  dead,  sir." 

"  Dead !  "  repeated  Browning,  slowly.  "  That  13 
unfortunate  for  you.  How  long  has  he  been 
dead?" 


LUKE    WALTON  49 

"About  two  years." 

"What  did  he  die  of?" 

"  I  don't  know,  sir,  exactly.  He  died  away  from 
home — in  California." 

There  was  a  strange  look,  difficult  to  read,  on 
the  gentleman's  face. 

"  That  is  a  long  way  off,"  he  said.  "  I  have  al- 
ways thought  I  should  like  to  visit  California.  I 
have  often  promised  myself  that  pleasure.  When 
my  business  will  permit  I  will  take  a  trip  out  that 
way." 

Here  was  another  difference  between  Mr.  Brown- 
ing and  the  man  of  whom  Luke's  father  had  writ- 
ten. The  stranger  had  never  been  in  California. 

Browning  handed  Luke  a  silver  quarter  in  pay- 
ment for  the  papers. 

"  Never  mind  about  the  change,"  he  said,  with  a 
wave  of  his  hand. 

"  Thank  you,  sir.    You  are  very  kind." 

If  Luke  could  have  divined  the  thoughts  of  the 
man  who  had  treated  him  thus  generously,  he  would 
have  felt  less  grateful. 

"  This  must  be  the  son  of  my  old  California 
friend,"  Browning  said  to  himself.  "  Can  he  have 
heard  of  the  money  intrusted  to  me?  I  don't  think 
it  possible,  for  I  left  Walton  on  the  verge  of  death. 
That  money  has  made  my  fortune.  I  invested  it 
in  land  which  has  more  than  quadrupled  in  value. 
Old  women  say  that  honesty  pays,"  he  added,  with 
a  sneer ;  "  but  it  is  nonsense.  In  this  case  dishon- 


So  LUKE    WALTON 

esty  has  paid  me  richly.  If  the  boy  has  heard  any- 
thing, it  is  lucky  that  I  changed  my  name  to  Brown- 
ing out  of  deference  to  my  wife's  aunt,  in  return 
for  a  beggarly  three  thousand  dollars.  However, 
I  have  made  it  up  to  ten  thousand  dollars  by 
judicious  investment.  My  young  newsboy  acquaint- 
ance will  find  it  hard  to  identify  me  with  the 
Thomas  Butler  who  took  charge  of  his  father's 
money." 

If  Browning  had  been  possessed  of  a  conscience 
it  might  have  troubled  him  when  he  was  brought 
face  to  face  with  one  of  the  sufferers  from  his 
crime;  but  he  was  a  hard,  selfish  man,  to  whom 
his  own  interests  were  of  supreme  importance. 
There  are  many  such  men,  unfortunately,  who,  with- 
out compunction,  build  up  their  fortunes  on  the 
sufferings  and  losses  of  widows  and  orphans. 

Even  to  Thomas  Browning  there  came  the 
thought,  "  If  I  could  give  the  boy  fifty  dollars  with- 
out arousing  suspicion  I  would  do  so.  But,  after 
all,  he  is  getting  on  well  enough.  I  have  heard  that 
these  newsboys  make  a  good  deal  of  money.  I  had 
better  let  well  enough  alone.  As  long  as  they  don't 
know  of  the  money,  they  won't  regret  its  loss." 

In  this  way  Browning  quieted  the  slight  protest  of 
his  almost  callous  conscience,  and  no  longer  allowed 
himself  to  be  annoyed  by  the  thought  of  the  family 
he  had  cruelly  wronged. 

"  He'll  never  know  it,  and  I  needn't  allow  it  to 
disturb  me,"  was  his  final  conclusion. 


LUKE   WALTON  5* 

But  something  happened  within  an  hour  which 
gave  him  a  feeling  of  anxiety. 

He  was  just  coming  out  of  the  Chicago  post  office, 
at  the  corner  of  Adams  and  Clark  Streets,  when  a 
hand  was  laid  upon  his  shoulder. 

"  How  are  you,  Butler?  "  said  a  tall  man,  wearing 
a  Mexican  sombrero.  "  I  haven't  set  eyes  upon  you 
since  we  were  together  at  Gold  Gulch,  in  Califor- 
nia." 

Browning  looked  about  him  apprehensively, 
Fortunately  he  was  some  distance  from  the  corner 
•where  Luke  Walton  was  selling  papers. 

"  I  am  well,  thank  you,"  he  said. 

"  Are  you  living  in  Chicago  ?  " 

"  No ;  I  live  in  Wisconsin." 

"  Have  you  seen  anything  of  the  man  you  used  to 
be  with  so  much — Walton  ?  " 

"No;  he  died." 

"  Did  he,  indeed  ?  Well,  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that. 
He  was  a  good  fellow.  Did  he  leave  anything?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  not." 

"I  thought  he  struck  it  rich." 

"  So  he  did ;  but  he  lost  all  he  made." 

"How  was  that?" 

"  Poor  investments,  I  fancy." 

"  I  remember  he  told  me  one  day  that  he  had 
scraped  together  seven  or  eight  thousand  dollars." 

Browning  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  I  think 
that  was  a  mistake,"  he  said.  "  Walton  liked  to 
put  his  best  foot  foremost." 


52  LUKE   WALTON 

"You  think,  then,  he  misrepresented?" 

"  I  think  he  would  have  found  it  hard  to  find  the 
sum  you  mention." 

"  You  surprise  me,  Butler.  I  always  looked  upon 
Walton  as  a  singularly  reliable  man." 

"  So  he  was — in  most  things.  But  let  me  correct 
you  on  one  point.  You  call  me  Butler  ?  " 

"  Isn't  that  your  name  ?  " 

"  It  was,  but  I  had  a  reason — a  good,  substantial, 
pecuniary  reason — for  changing  it.  I  am  now 
Thomas  Browning." 

"  Say  you  so  ?  Well,  I  don't  say  but  I  would 
change  my  own  if  someone  would  pay  me  for  doing 
so.  Are  you  engaged  this  evening  ?  " 

"  Yes,  unfortunately." 

"  I  was  about  to  invite  you  to  some  theater.", 

"  Another  time — thanks." 

"  I  must  steer  clear  of  that  man,"  thought  Brown- 
ing. "  He  is  one  of  the  few  who  knew  me  in  Cali- 
fornia. I  won't  meet  him  again,  if  I  can  help  it." 


CHAPTER   IX 

STEPHEN    WEBB 

The  more  Browning  thought  of  the  newsboy  in 
whom  he  had  so  strangely  recognized  the  son  of 
the  man  whom  he  had  so  cruelly  wronged,  the  more 
uneasy  he  felt. 

"  He  has  evidently  heard  of  me,"  he  soliloquized. 
"  His  father  could  not  have  been  so  near  death  as  I 
supposed.  He  must  have  sent  the  boy  or  his  mother 
a  message  about  that  money.  If  it  should  come  to 
his  knowledge  that  I  am  the  Thomas  Butler  to  whom 
his  father  confided  ten  thousand  dollars  which  I  have 
failed  to  hand  over  to  the  family,  he  may  make  it 
very  disagreeable  for  me." 

The  fact  that  so  many  persons  were  able  to  iden- 
tify him  as  Thomas  Butler  made  the  danger  more 
imminent. 

"  I  must  take  some  steps — but  what  ?  "  Browning 
asked  himself. 

He  kept  on  walking  till  he  found  himself  passing 
the  entrance  of  a  low  poolroom.  He  never  played 
pool,  nor  would  it  have  suited  a  man  of  his  social 
position  to  enter  such  a  place,  but  that  he  caught 
sight  of  a  young  man,  whose  face  and  figure  were 

53 


54  LUKE   WALTON 

familiar  to  him,  in  the  act  of  going  into  it.  He 
quickened  his  pace,  and  laid  a  hand  on  the  young 
man's  shoulder. 

The  latter  turned  quickly,  revealing  a  face  bear- 
ing the  unmistakable  marks  of  dissipation. 

"  Uncle  Thomas ! "  he  exclaimed,  apparently  ill 
at  ease. 

"Yes,  Stephen,  it  is  I.    Where  are  you  going?" 

The  young  man  hesitated. 

"  You  need  not  answer.  I  see  you  are  wedded  to 
your  old  amusements.  Are  you  still  in  the  place  I 
got  for  you  ?  " 

Stephen  Webb  looked  uneasy  and  shamefaced. 

"  I  have  lost  my  place,"  he  answered,  after  a 
pause. 

"  How  does  it  happen  that  you  lost  it  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  Someone  must  have  prejudiced 
my  employer  against  me." 

"  It  is  your  own  habits  that  have  prejudiced  him, 
I  make  no  doubt." 

This  was  true.  One  morning  Stephen,  whose 
besetting  sin  was  intemperance,  appeared  at  the 
office  where  he  was  employed  in  such  a  state  of  in- 
toxication that  he  was  summarily  discharged.  It 
may  be  explained  that  he  was  a  son  of  Mr.  Brown- 
ing's only  sister. 

"  When  were  you  discharged  ? "  asked  his  uncle. 

"  Last  week." 

"  And  have  you  tried  to  get  another  situation  ? " 

"  Yes." 


LUKE   WALTON  55 

"  What  are  your  prospects  of  success  ?  " 

"  There  seem  to  be  very  few  openings  just  now, 
Uncle  Thomas." 

"  The  greater  reason  why  you  should  have  kept 
the  place  I  obtained  for  you.  Were  you  going  to 
play  pool  in  this  low  place  ?  " 

"  I  was  going  to  look  on.  A  man  must  have  some 
amusement/'  said  Stephen,  sullenly. 

"  Amusement  is  all  you  think  of.  However,  it  so 
happens  that  I  have  something  that  I  wish  you  to 
do." 

Stephen  regarded  his  uncle  in  surprise. 

"  Are  you  going  to  open  an  office  in  Chicago  ?  " 
he  asked. 

"  No ;  the  service  is  of  a  different  nature.  It  is 
— secret  and  confidential.  It  is,  I  may  say,  some- 
thing in  the  detective  line." 

"  Then  I'm  your  man,"  said  his  nephew,  bright- 
ening up. 

"  The  service  is  simple,  so  that  you  will  probably 
be  qualified  to  do  what  I  require." 

"  I've  read  lots  of  detective  stories,"  said  Stephen, 
eagerly.  "  It's  just  the  work  I  should  like." 

"  Humph !  I  don't  think  much  is  to  be  learned 
from  detective  stories.  You  will  understand,  of 
course,  that  you  are  not  to  let  anyone  know  you  are 
acting  for  me." 

"  Certainly.  You  will  find  that  I  can  keep  a 
secret." 

"  I  leave  Chicago  to-morrow  morning,  and  will 


56  LUKE  WALTON 

give  you  directions  before  I  go.  Where  can  we 
have  a  private  conference?" 

"  Here  is  an  oyster  house.  We  shall  be  quiet 
here." 

"Very  well!    We  will  go  in." 

They  entered  a  small  room,  with  a  sanded  floor, 
provided  with  a  few  unpainted  tables.  It  seemed 
quiet  enough,  for  there  were  only  two  guests 
present,  seated  at  a  table  near  the  front. 

Stephen  and  his  uncle  went  to  the  back  of  the 
room,  and  seated  themselves  at  the  rear  table. 

"  We  must  order  something,"  suggested  Stephen. 

"Get  what  you  please,"  said  Browning,  indiffer- 
ently. 

"  Two  stews !  "  ordered  Stephen.  "  We  can  talk 
while  they  are  getting  them  ready." 

"  Very  well !  Now,  for  my  instructions.  At  the 
corner  of  Clark  and  Randolph  Streets  every  morn- 
ing and  evening  you  will  find  a  newsboy  selling 
papers." 

"A  dozen,  you  mean." 

"  True,  but  I  am  going  to  describe  this  boy  so 
that  you  may  know  him.  He  is  about  fifteen,  I 
should  judge,  neatly  dressed,  and  would  be  consid- 
ered good-looking." 

"  Do  you  know  his  name  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  is  Luke  Walton." 

"  Is  he  the  one  I  am  to  watch  ?  " 

"  You  are  to  make  his  acquaintance,  and  find  out 
all  you  can  about  his  circumstances." 


LUKE   WALTON  57 

"  Do  you  know  where  he  lives  ?  " 

"  No ;  that  is  one  of  the  things  you  are  to  find  out 
for  me." 

"  What  else  do  you  want  me  to  find  out  ? " 

"  Find  out  how  many  there  are  in  the  family,  also 
how  they  live;  whether  they  have  anything  to  live 
on  except  what  this  newsboy  earns." 

"All  right,  Uncle  Thomas.  You  seem  to  have 
a  great  deal  of  interest  in  this  boy." 

"  That  is  my  business,"  said  Browning,  curtly. 
"  If  you  wish  to  work  for  me,  you  must  not  show 
too  much  curiosity.  Never  mind  what  my  motives 
are.  Do  you  understand  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  Uncle  Thomas.  It  shall  be  as  you 
say.  I  suppose  I  am  to  be  paid  ?  " 

"  Yes.  How  much  salary  did  you  receive  where 
you  were  last  employed  ?  " 

"  Ten  dollars  a  week." 

"  You  shall  receive  this  sum  for  the  present.  It 
is  very  good  pay  for  the  small  service  required  of 
you." 

"  All  right,  uncle." 

The  stews  were  ready  by  this  time.  They  were 
brought  and  set  before  Stephen  and  his  uncle.  The 
latter  toyed  with  his  spoon,  only  taking  a  taste  or 
two,  but  Stephen  showed  much  more  appreciation  of 
the  dish,  not  being  accustomed,  like  his  uncle,  to 
dining  at  first-class  hotels. 

"  How  am  I  to  let  you  know  what  I  find  out  ?  " 
asked  Stephen. 


58  LUKE   WALTON 

"  Write  me  at  Milwaukee.  I  will  send  you  further 
instructions  from  there." 

"  Very  well,  sir." 

"  Oh,  by  the  way,  you  are  never  to  mention  me 
to  this  Luke  Walton.  I  have  my  reasons." 

"  I  will  do  just  as  you  say." 

"  How  is  your  mother,  Stephen?  " 

"  About  the  same.  She  isn't  a  very  cheerful  party, 
you  know.  She  is  always  fretting." 

"  Has  she  any  lodgers  ?  " 

"  Yes,  three,  but  one  is  a  little  irregular  with  his 
rent." 

"  Of  course,  I  expect  that  you  will  hand  your 
mother  half  the  weekly  sum  I  pay  you.  She  has  a 
right  to  expect  that  much  help  from  her  son." 

Stephen  assented,  but  not  with  alacrity,  and  as 
he  had  now  disposed  of  the  stew,  the  two  rose  from 
their  seats  and  went  outside.  A  few  words  of  final 
instructions,  and  they  parted. 

"I  wonder  why  Uncle  Thomas  takes  such  an 
interest  in  that  newsboy,"  thought  Stephen.  "  I 
will  make  it  my  business  to  find  out." 


CHAPTER   X 

STEPHEN    WEBB   OBTAINS    SOME    INFORMATION 

Luke  was  at  his  post  the  following  morning,  and 
had  disposed  of  half  his  papers  when  Stephen  Webb 
strolled  by.  He  walked  past  Luke,  and  then,  as  if 
it  was  an  afterthought,  turned  bade,  and  addressed 
him. 

"Have  you  a  morning  Tribune?"  he  asked. 

Luke  produced  it. 

"  How's  business  to-day  ?  "  asked  Stephen  in  an 
off-hand  manner. 

"  Pretty  fair,"  answered  Luke,  for  the  first  time 
taking  notice  of  the  inquirer,  who  did  not  impress 
him  very  favorably. 

"  I  have  often  wondered  how  you  newsboys  make 
it  pay,"  said  Stephen,  in  a  sociable  tone. 

"  We  don't  make  our  fortunes,  as  a  rule,"  an- 
swered Luke,  smiling,  "  so  I  can't  recommend  you 
to  go  into  it." 

"  I  don't  think  it  would  suit  me.  I  don't  mind 
owning  up  that  I  am  lazy.  But,  then,  I  am  not 
obliged  to  work — for  the  present,  at  least." 

Luke  eyed  him  with  curiosity.  He  did  not  look 
like  a  young  man  of  means,  and  his  suit  was  almost 

59 


60  LUKE   WALTON 

shabby,  but  he  spoke  as  if  he  was  able  to  live  with- 
out work. 

"  I  should  like  to  be  able  to  live  without  work," 
said  the  newsboy.  "  But  even  then  I  would  find 
something  to  do.  I  should  not  be  happy  if  I  were 
idle." 

"  I  am  not  wholly  without  work,"  said  Stephen, 
"  My  uncle,  who  lives  at  a  distance,  occasionally 
sends  to  me  to  do  something  for  him.  I  have  to 
hold  myself  subject  to  his  orders.  In  the  mean- 
time I  get  an  income  from  him.  How  long  have 
you  been  a  newsboy  ?  " 

"  Nearly  two  years." 

"  Do  you  like  it  ?  Why  don't  you  get  a  place  in  a 
store  or  an  office  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  to,  if  I  could  make  enough ;  but 
boys  get  very  small  salaries." 

"  I  was  about  to  offer  to  look  for  a  place  for  you. 
I  know  some  men  in  business." 

"  Thank  you !  You  are  very  kind,  considering 
that  we  are  strangers." 

"  Oh,  well,  I  can  judge  of  you  by  your  looks.  I 
shouldn't  be  afraid  to  recommend  you." 

Luke  felt  that  it  was  ungracious,  but  it  occurred 
to  him  that  he  could  hardly  say  as  much  for  his 
companion,  whose  face  had  a  dissipated  look  that  by 
no  means  recommended  him. 

"  Thank  you !  "  he  replied ;  "  but  unless  you  can 
offer  me  as  much  as  five  dollars  a  week,  I  should  feel 
obliged  to  keep  on  selling  papers.  I  not  only  have 


LUKE    WALTON  61 

myself  to  look  out  for,  but  a  mother  and  little 
brother." 

Stephen  nodded  to  himself  complacently.  It  was 
the  very  information  of  which  he  was  in  search. 

"Then  your  father  isn't  living?"  he  said. 

"  No.    He  died  in  California." 

"  Uncle  Thomas  made,  his  money  in  California," 
Stephen  said  to  himself.  ,"  I  wonder  if  he  knew 
this  newsboy's  father. 

"  Five  dollars  is  little  enough  for  three  persons  to 
live  upon,"  he  went  on,  in  a  sympathetic  manner. 

"  Mother  earns  something  by  sewing,"  Luke  an- 
swered, unsuspiciously ;  "  but  it  takes  all  we  can 
make  to  support  us." 

"  Then  they  can't  have  any  other  resources," 
thought  Stephen.  "  I  am  getting  on  famously." 

"  Well,  good-morning,  Luke !  "  he  said.  "  I'll  see 
you  later." 

"  How  do  you  know  my  name  ?  "  asked  Luke,  in 
surprise. 

"  I'm  an  idiot !  "  thought  Stephen.  "  I  ought  to 
have  appeared  ignorant  of  his  name.  I  have  seen 
you  before  to-day,"  he  replied,  taking  a  little  time 
to  think.  "  I  heard  one  of  the  other  newsboys  call- 
ing you  by  name.  I  don't  pretend  to  be  a  magician." 

This  explanation  satisfied  Luke.  It  appeared  very 
natural. 

"  I  have  a  great  memory  for  names,"  proceeded 
Stephen.  "  That  reminds  me  that  I  have  not  told 
you  mine — I  am  Stephen  Webb,  at  your  service." 


62  LUKE   WALTON 

"  I  will  remember  it." 

"  Have  a  cigarette,  Luke  ?  "  added  Stephen,  pro- 
ducing a  packet  from  his  pocket. 

"  Thank  you ;  I  don't  smoke." 

"  Don't  smoke,  and  you  a  newsboy  1  I  thought 
all  of  you  smoked." 

"  Most  of  us  do,  but  I  promised  my  mother  I 
wouldn't  smoke  till  I  was  twenty-one." 

"  Then  I'm  old  enough  to  smoke.  I've  smoked 
ever  since  I  was  twelve  years  old — well,  good-morn- 
ing! 

"  That'll  do  for  one  day,"  thought  Stephen  Webb. 
"  I  rather  like  this  job.  The  duties  are  light  and 
easy,  and  it  is  to  my  advantage  to  make  it  last  as 
long  as  possible.  I  don't  feel  any  particular  inter- 
est in  this  boy,  but  I  should  like  to  know  what  my 
esteemed  uncle  is  up  to.  He  pretends  to  be  a  man 
of  high  respectability,  but  it  always  struck  me  that 
there  was  something  sly  about  him.  However,  he's 
got  money,  and  I  must  do  what  I  can  to  please 
him." 

It  was  three  days  before  Stephen  Webb  called 
again  on  his  new  acquaintance.  He  did  not  wish 
Luke  to  suspect  anything,  he  said  to  himself. 
Really,  however,  he  found  other  things  to  take  up 
his  attention.  At  the  rate  his  money  was  going  it 
seemed  very  doubtful  whether  he  would  be  able  to 
give  his  mother  any  part  of  his  salary,  as  suggested 
by  his  uncle. 
• "  Hang  it  all !  "  he  said  to  himself,  as  he  noted  his 


LUKE   WALTON  63 

rapidly  diminishing  hoard.  "  Why  can't  my  uncle 
open  his  heart  and  give  me  more  than  ten  dollars  a 
week?  Fifteen  dollars  wouldn't  be  any  too  much, 
and  to  him  it  would  be  nothing,  positively  nothing." 

On  the  second  evening  Luke  went  home  late.  It 
had  been  a  poor  day  for  him,  and  his  receipts  were 
less  than  usual,  though  he  had  been  out  more 
hours. 

When  he  entered  the  house,  however,  he  assumed 
a  cheerful  look,  for  he  never  wished  to  depress  his 
mother's  spirits. 

"  You  are  late,  Luke,"  said  Mrs.  Walton ;  "  but  I 
have  kept  your  supper  warm." 

"  What  makes  you  so  late,  Luke  ?  "  asked  Bennie. 

"  The  papers  went  slow,  Bennie.  They  will  some- 
times. There's  no  very  important  news  just  now. 
I  suppose  that  explains  it." 

After  a  while  Luke  thought  he  noticed  that  his 
mother  looked  more  serious  than  usual. 

"  What's  the  matter,  mother?  "  he  asked.  "  Have 
you  a  headache  ?  " 

"  No,  Luke.  I  am  perfectly  well,  but  I  am  feeling 
a  little  anxious." 

"  About  what,  mother  ?  " 

"  I  went  around  this  afternoon  to  take  half  a 
dozen  shirts  that  I  had  completed,  and  asked  for 
more.  They  told  me  they  had  no  more  for  me  at 
present,  that  they  had  made  an  arrangement  to  have 
a  good  deal  of  their  work  done  in  the  country,  and 
they  didn't  know  when  I  could  have  any  more." 


64  LUKE    WALTON 

This  was  bad  news,  for  Luke  knew  that  he  alone 
did  not  earn  enough  to  support  the  family.  How- 
ever, he  answered  cheerfully :  "  Don't  be  anxious, 
mother!  There  are  plenty  of  other  establishments 
in  Chicago  besides  the  one  you  have  been  working 
for." 

"  That  is  true,  Luke ;  but  I  don't  know  whether 
that  will  help  me.  I  stopped  at  two  places  after 
leaving  Gusset  &  Co.'s,  and  was  told  that  their  list 
was  full." 

"Well,  mother,  don't  let  us  think  of  it  to-night! 
It's  of  no  use  to  borrow  trouble.  To-morrow  we 
can  try  again." 

Luke's  cheerfulness  had  its  effect  on  his  mother, 
and  the  evening  was  passed  sociallv.  Mrs.  Walton 
sewed  for  herself,  and  Luke  amused  Bennie  by  his 
stories  of  what  he  had  seen  during  the  day. 

The  next  morning  Luke  went  out  to  work  at  the 
usual  time.  He  had  all  his  papers  sold  out  by  half-past 
ten  o'clock,  and  walked  over  to  State  Street,  partly  to 
fill  up  the  time,  and  partly  in  search  of  some  stray 
job.  He  was  standing  in  front  of  the  Bee  Hive,  a 
well-known  drygoods  store  on  State  Street,  when 
his  attention  was  called  to  an  old  lady,  who,  in 
attempting  to  cross  the  street,  had  imprudently 
placed  herself  just  in  the  track  of  a  rapidly  advanc- 
ing cable  car.  Becoming  sensible  of  her  danger,  the 
old  lady  uttered  a  terrified  cry,  but  was  too  panic- 
•tricken  to  move. 

On  came  the  car,  with  gong  sounding  out  its 


LUKE   WALTON  65 

alarm,  and  a  cry  of  horror  went  up  from  the  by- 
standers. 

Luke  alone  seemed  to  have  his  wits  about  him. 

He  saw  that  there  was  not  a  moment  to  lose,  and, 
gathering  up  his  sivengtli,  dashed  to  the  old  lady's 
assistance. 


CHAPTER   X3 

A   HOUSE  ON    PRAIRIE  AVENUE 

The  old  lady  had  just  become  conscious  of  her 
peril  when  Luke  reached  her.  She  was  too  bewil- 
dered to  move,  and  would  inevitably  have  been 
crushed  by  the  approaching  car  had  not  Luke  seized 
her  by  the  arm,  and  fairly  dragged  her  out  of 
danger. 

Then,  as  the  car  passed  on,  he  took  off  his  hat, 
and  said,  apologetically :  "  I  hope  you  will  excuse 
my  roughness,  madam,  but  I  could  see  no  other  way 
of  saving  you." 

"  Please  lead  me  to  the  sidewalk,"  gasped  the  old 
lady.  Luke  complied  with  her  request. 

"  I  am  deeply  thankful  to  you,  my  boy,"  she  said, 
as  soon  as  she  found  voice.  "  I  can  see  that  I  was  in 
great  danger.  I  was  busily  thinking,  or  I  should  not 
have  been  so  careless." 

"  I  am  glad  that  I  was  able  to  help  you,"  re- 
sponded Luke,  as  he  prepared  to  leave  his  new  ac- 
quaintance. 

"  Don't  leave  me !  "  said  the  old  lady.  "  My 
nerves  are  so  upset  that  I  don't  like  being  left 
alone." 

66 


LUKE    WALTON  67 

"  I  am  quite  at  your  service,  madam,"  replied 
Luke,  politely.  "  Shall  i  put  you  on  board  the 
•sars?" 

"  No,  call  a  carriage,  please." 

This  was  easily  done,  for  they  were  in  front  of 
the  Palmer  House,  where  a  line  of  cabs  may  usually 
be  found.  Luke  called  one,  and  assisted  the  old  lady 
inside. 

"  Where  shall  I  tell  the  driver  to  take  you?  "  he 
asked. 

The  old  lady  named  a  number  on  Prairie  Avenue, 
which  contains  some  of  the  finest  residences  in  Chi- 
cago. 

"  Can  I  do  anything  more  for  you  ?  "  asked  our 
hero. 

"  Yes,"  was  the  unexpected  reply.  "  Get  in  your- 
self, if  you  can  spare  the  time." 

"  Certainly,"  assented  Luke. 

He  took  his  seat  beside  the  old  lady,  wondering 
what  further  service  she  required  of  him. 

"  I  hope  you  have  receovered  from  your  fright," 
he  said,  politely. 

"  Yes,  I  begin  to  feel  myself  again.  Probably 
you  wonder  why  I  have  asked  you  to  accompany 
me?" 

"  Probably  because  you  may  need  my  services," 
suggested  Luke. 

"  Not  altogether.  I  shudder  as  I  think  of  the 
danger  from  which  you  rescued  me,  but  I  have  an- 
other object  in  view." 


68  LUKE    WALTON 

Luke  waited  for  her  to  explain. 

"  I  want  to  become  better  acquainted  with  you." 

"  Thank  you,  madam." 

"  I  fully  recognize  that  you  have  done  me  a  great 
service.  Now,  if  I  ask  you  a  fair  question  about 
yourself,  you  won't  think  it  an  old  woman's  curi- 
osity?" 

"  I  hope  I  should  not  be  so  ill-bred,  madam." 

"  Really,  you  are  a  very  nice  boy." 

Luke  blushed  a  little,  for  he  was  not  used  to 
Compliments. 

"Now,  tell  me  where  you  live?" 

"  On  Green  Street." 

"Where  is  that?" 

"  Only  a  stone's  throw  from  Milwaukee  Avenue." 

"  I  don't  think  I  was  ever  in  that  part  of  the  city." 

"  It  is  not  a  nice  part  of  the  city,  but  we  cannot 
afford  to  live  in  a  better  place." 

"  Yon  say  '  we.'  Does  that  mean  your  father  and 
mother  ?  " 

"  My  father  is  dead.  Our  family  consists  of  my 
mother,  my  little  brother,  and  myself." 

"And  you  are — excuse  my  saying  so — poor?" 

"  We  are  poor,  but  thus  far  we  have  not  wanted 
for  food  or  shelter." 

"  I  suppose  you  are  employed  in  some  way  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  sell  papers." 

"  Then  you  are  a  newsboy  ?  " 

"  Yes,  madam." 

"  I  have  read  about  newsboys,  but  I  know  very 


LUKE    WALTON  69 

little  about  them.  I  suppose  you  cannot  save  very 
much." 

"  If  I  make  seventy-five  cents  a  day  I  consider 
myself  quite  lucky.  It  is  more  than  I  average." 

"  Surely  you  can't  live  on  that — I  mean  the  three 
of  you?" 

"  Mother  earns  something  by  making  shirts ;  at 
least,  she  has  done  so;  but  yesterday  she  was  told 
that  she  would  nor  have  any  more  work  at  present." 

"  And  your  brother — he  is  too  young  to  work,  I 
suppose  ?  " 

"  Yes,  madam." 

"  I  am  afraid,"  said  the  old  lady,  thoughtfully, 
"  that  we  who  enjoy  all  that  wealth  can  give  us,  and 
are  spared  all  pecuniary  anxieties,  are  not  suffi- 
ciently grateful  for  the  good  gifts  which  Provi- 
dence has  bestowed  upon  us." 

Luke  knew  that  a  reply  was  not  expected,  and  he 
did  not  make  any. 

"  Do  you  ever  get  low-spirited  ?  "  asked  the  old 
lady,  suddenly. 

"  No ;  I  am  always  hoping  that  better  days  will 
come." 

"  And  your  mother?  " 

"  She  is  not  so  hopeful ;  but  while  she  had  work 
to  do  she  was  always  cheerful.  Last  evening  I 
found  her  out  of  spirits.  You  see,  she  can't  tell 
when  she  will  have  work  again." 

"Just  so.  Tell  her  from  me,  to  hope  for  better 
fortune." 


70  LUKE    WALTON 

"  I  will,  madam." 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  the  cab 
was  making  rapid  progress,  and  as  the  last  words 
were  spoken  the  driver  reined  up  in  front  of  a 
handsome  residence. 

"  Is  this  the  place,  madam?  "  asked  Luke. 

The  old  lady  looked  out  of  the  hack. 

'.'  Yes,"  she  answered.  "  I  had  no  idea  we  had 
got  along  so  far." 

Luke  helped  her  out  of  the  cab.  She  paid  the  man 
his  fare,  «md  then  signed  Luke  to  help  her  up  the 
steps. 

"  I  want  you  to  come  into  the  house  with  me," 
she  said.  "  I  .have  not  got  through  talking  with 
you." 

A  maidservant  answered  the  bell.  She  looked 
surprised  when  she  saw  the  old  lady's  young  com- 
panion. 

"  Is  my  niece  in  ?  "  asked  the  old  lady. 

"  No,  Mrs.  Merton — Master  Harold  is  in." 

"  Never  mind !  You  may  come  upstairs  with  me, 
young  man." 

Luke  followed  the  old  lady  up  the  broad,  hand- 
some staircase,  stealing  a  curious  glance  at  an  ele- 
gantly furnished  drawing  room,  the  door  of  which 
opened  into  the  hall. 

His  companion  led  the  way  into  the  front  room  on 
the  second  floor. 

"  Remain  here  until  I  have  taken  off  my  things/' 
she  said. 


LUKE    WALTON  71 

Luke  seated  himself  in  a  luxurious  armchair, 
wholly  unlike  the  chairs  in  his  humble  home. 

He  looked  about  him  and  wondered  how  it  would 
seem  to  live  in  such  luxury.  He  had  little  time  for 
thought,  for  in  less  than  five  minutes  Mrs.  Merton 
made  her  appearance. 

"  You  have  not  yet  told  me  your  name,"  she 
said. 

"  Luke  Walton." 

"  That's  a  good  name — I  am  Mrs.  Merton." 

"  I  noticed  that  the  servant  called  you  so,"  said 
Luke. 

"  Yes ;  I  am  a  widow.  My  married  niece  lives 
here  with  me.  She  is  also  a  widow,  with  one  son, 
Harold.  I  think  he  might  be  about  your  age.  Her 
name  is  Tracy.  You  wonder  why  I  give  you  all 
these  particulars?  I  see  you  do.  It  is  because  I 
mean  to  keep  up  our  acquaintance." 

"  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Merton." 

"  My  experience  this  morning  has  shown  me  that 
I  am  hardly  fit  to  go  about  the  city  alone.  Yet  I 
am  not  willing  to  remain  at  home.  It  has  occurred 
to  me  that  I  can  make  use  of  your  services  with  ad- 
vantage both  to  you  and  myself.  What  do  you 
say?" 

"  I  shall  be  glad  of  anything  that  will  increase 
my  income,"  said  Luke,  promptly. 

"  So  I  thought.  Please  call  here  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, and  inquire  for  me.  I  will  then  tell  you  what  I 
require." 


72  LUKE  WALTON 

"Very  well,  Mrs.  Merton.    You  may  Depend 

upon  me." 

"  And  accept  a  week's  pay  in  advance." 
She  put  a  seale'd  envelope  into  his  hancl.    Lulce 

took  it,  and,  with  a  bow,,  left  the  room. 


CHAPTER   XII 

A   PLOT   THAT    FAILED 

As  the  distance  was  considerable  to  the  business 
part  of  the  city,  Luke  boarded  a  car  and  rode  down- 
town. It  did  not  occur  to  him  to  open  the  envelope 
till  he  was  halfway  to  the  end  of  his  journey. 

When  he  did  so,  he  was  agreeably  surprised.  The 
envelope  contained  a  ten-dollar  bill. 

"  Ten  dollars !  Hasn't  Mrs.  Merton  made  a  mis- 
take?" he  said  to  himself.  "She  said  it  was  a 
week's  pay.  But,  of  course,  she  wouldn't  pay  ten 
dollars  for  the  little  I  am  to  do." 

Luke  decided  that  the  extra  sum  was  given  him  on 
account  of  the  service  he  had  already  been  fortunate 
enough  to  render  the  old  lady. 

It  is  not  always  wise  to  display  money  in  a  public 
conveyance.  This  was  a  lesson  which  Luke  was 
destined  to  learn  by  an  embarrassing  experience. 

Next  to  him  sat  rather  a  showily  dressed  woman, 
with  keen,  sharp  eyes.  She  took  notice  of  the  bank- 
note which  Luke  drew  from  the  envelope,  and  pre- 
pared to  take  advantage  of  the  knowledge. 

No  sooner  had  Luke  replaced  the  envelope  in  his 
pocket  than  this  woman  put  her  hand  in  hers,  and, 

73 


74  LUKE    WALTON 

after  a  pretended  search,  exclaimed,  in  a  loud  voice: 
"  There  is  a  pickpocket  in  this  car.  I  have  been 
robbed ! " 

Of  course,  this  statement  aroused  the  attention 
of  all  the  passengers. 

"  What  have  you  lost,  madam?  "  inquired  an  old 
gentleman. 

"  A  ten-dollar  bill,"  answered  the  woman. 

"  Was  it  in  your  pocketbook?  " 

"  No,"  she  replied,  glibly.  "  It  was  in  an  envel- 
ope. It  was  handed  to  me  by  my  sister  just  before 
I  left  home." 

As  soon  as  Luke  heard  this  declaration,  he  under- 
stood that  the  woman  had  laid  a  trap  for  him,  and 
he  realized  his  imprudence  in  displaying  the 
money.  Naturally  he  looked  excited  and  disturbed. 
He  saw  that  in  all  probability  the  woman's  word 
would  be  taken  in  preference  to  his.  He  might  be 
arrested,  and  find  it  difficult  to  prove  his  innocence. 

"Have  you  any  suspicion  as  to  who  took  it?" 
asked  the  old  gentleman. 

"  I  think  this  boy  took  it,"  said  the  woman,  point- 
ing to  Luke. 

Hostile  and  suspicious  eyes  were  turned  upon  the 
latter. 

Why  is  it  that  people  are  prone  to  believe  evil  of 
one  who  is  accused,  and  to  pronounce  a  verdict  of 
guilty  on  that  account  alone? 

"  It's  terrible,  and  he  so  young !  "  said  an  old  lady 
with  a  severe  cast  of  countenance,  who  sat  next  to 


LUKE   WALTON  75 

the  old  gentleman.  "  What  is  the  world  coming 
to?" 

"  What,  indeed,  ma'am  ?  "  echoed  the  old  gentle- 
man. 

Luke  felt  that  it  was  time  for  him  to  say  some- 
thing. 

"  This  lady  is  quite  mistaken,"  he  declared,  pale 
but  resolute.  "  I'm  no  thief." 

"  It  can  easily  be  proved,"  said  the  woman,  with 
a  cunning  smile.  "  Let  the  boy  show  the  contents 
of  his  pockets." 

"  Yes,  that  is  only  fair." 

Luke  saw  that  his  difficulties  were  increasing. 

"  I  admit  that  I  have  a  ten-dollar  bill  in  an  en- 
velope," he  said. 

"  I  told  you  so !  "  cried  the  woman,  triumphantly. 

"  But  it  is  my  own." 

"  Graceless  boy ! "  said  the  old  gentleman,  severely. 
"  Do  not  add  falsehood  to  theft." 

"  I  am  speaking  the  truth,  sir." 

"  How  the  boy  brazens  it  out !  "  murmured  the 
sour-visaged  lady,  who  was  an  old  maid,  but  not 
from  choice. 

"  Return  the  lady  her  money,  unless  you  wish  to 
be  arrested,"  said  the  old  gentleman.  "  It  is  really 
shocking  that  so  young  a  boy  should  be  so  unprin- 
cipled." 

"  I  don't  intend  to  give  this  person  " — Luke  found 
it  hard  to  say  lady — "  what  she  has  no  claim  to." 

"  Young  man,  you  will  find  that  you  are  making 


76  LUKE   WALTON 

a  grand  mistake.  Probably  if  you  give  up  the  money 
the  lady  will  not  prosecute  you." 

"  No,  I  will  have  pity  upon  his  youth,"  said  the 
woman. 

"  I  can  tell  exactly  where  I  got  the  money,"  went 
on  Luke,  desperately. 

"  Where  did  you  get  it?  "  asked  the  old  maid,  with 
a  sarcastic  smile. 

"  From  Mrs.  Merton,  of  Prairie  Avenue." 

"  What  did  she  give  it  to  you  for  ?  " 

"  I  am  in  her  employment." 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  woman,  ihrugging  her 
shoulders,  "  you  can  judge  whether  this  is  a  prob- 
able story." 

"  I  refer  to  Mrs.  Merton  herself,"  said  Luke. 

"  No  doubt !  You  want  to  gain  time.  Boy,  I  am 
getting  out  of  patience.  Give  me  my  money !  " 

"  I  have  no  money  of  yours,  madam,"  replied 
Luke,  provoked ;  "  and  you  know  that  as  well  as 
I  do." 

"  So  you  are  impertinent,  as  well  as  a  thief,"  said 
the  old  gentleman.  "  I  have  no  more  pity  for  you. 
Madam,  if  you  take  my  advice,  you  will  have  the 
lying  rascal  arrested." 

"  I  would  prefer  that  he  should  give  up  the  money 
quietly." 

"  I  will  take  it  upon  myself  to  call  a  policeman 
when  the  car  stops.  I  have  seldom  seen  a  more 
hardened  young  villain." 

"  You   do  me   great  injustice,   sir,"   said  Luke. 


LUKE    WALTON  77 

"  Why  do  you  judge  so  severely  of  one  whom  you  do 
not  know  ?  Why  do  you  accept  this  person's  word, 
and  refuse  to  believe  me  ?  " 

"  Because,  young  man,  I  have  lived  too  long  to  be 
easily  deceived.  I  pride  myself  upon  my  judgment 
of  faces,  and  I  can  see  the  guilt  in  yours." 

The  woman  gazed  about  her  triumphantly.  It 
looked  to  her  as  if  her  trick  would  be  successful, 
and  she  would  gain  ten  dollars  by  sacrificing  the 
reputation  of  a  boy.  I  hope  there  are  not  many 
persons  of  either  sex  so  contemptibly  mean  as  was 
this  well-dressed  woman. 

Luke  looked  about  him  earnestly. 

"  Is  there  no  one  in  this  car  who  believes  me  in- 
nocent ? "  he  asked. 

"  No,"  said  the  old  gentleman.  "  We  all  be- 
lieve that  this  very  respectable  lady  charges  you 
justly." 

"  I  say  amen  to  that,"  added  the  old  maid,  nod- 
ding sharply. 

When  things  are  at  the  worst  they  are  liable  to 
take  a  turn. 

Next  to  the  old  maid  sat  a  man  of  about  thirty- 
five,  in  a  business  suit,  who,  though  he  had  said 
nothing,  had  listened  attentively  to  the  charges  and 
counter-charges.  In  him  Luke  was  to  find  a  power- 
ful and  effective  friend. 

"  Speak  for  yourself,  old  gentleman,"  he  said. 
"  You  certainly  are  old  enough  to  have  learned  a 
lesson  of  Christian  charity." 


75  LUKE   WALTON 

"  &*"  exclaimed  the  old  gentleman,  in  a  lofty 
tone,  "  I  don't  require  any  instruction  from  you." 

"  Why  do  you  think  the  boy  a  thief  ?  Did  you  see 
him  take  the  money  ?  " 

"  No,  but  its  presence  in  his  pocket  is  proof 
enough  for  me  of  his  guilt." 

"  Of  course  it  is  1 "  said  the  old  maid,  trium- 
phantly, and  she  glared  at  Luke's  defender  in  a 
malevolent  way. 

The  young  man  did  not  appear  in  the  least  dis- 
concerted. 

"  I  have  seldom  encountered  more  uncharitable 
people,"  he  said.  "  You  are  ready  to  pronounce  the 
boy  guilty  without  any  proof  at  all." 

"  Don't  it  occur  to  you  that  you  are  insulting  the 
lady  who  brings  the  charge  ?  "  asked  the  old  gen- 
tleman, sternly. 

The  young  man  laughed. 

"  The  woman  has  brought  a  false  charge,"  he 
said. 

"  Really,  this  is  outrageous!  "  cried  the  old  maid. 
"  If  I  were  in  her  place  I  would  make  you  suffer 
for  this  calumny." 

"  Probably  I  know  her  better  than  you  do.  I  am 
a  salesman  in  Marshall  Field's  drygoods  store,  and 
this  lady  is  a  notorious  shoplifter.  She  is  varying 
her  performances  to-day.  I  have  a  great  mind  to 
call  a  policeman.  She  deserves  arrest." 

Had  a  bombshell  exploded  in  the  car,  there  would 
not  have  been  a  greater  sensation.  The  woman  rcue 


LUKE   WALTON  79 

without  a  word,  and  signaled  to  have  the  car 
stopped. 

"  Now,  sir,"  went  on  the  young  man,  sternly,  "  if 
you  are  a  gentleman,  you  will  apologize  to  this 
boy  for  your  unworthy  suspicions,  and  you,  too, 
madam." 

The  old  maid  tossed  her  head,  but  could  not  find  a 
word  to  say,  while  the  old  gentleman  looked  the 
picture  of  mortification. 

"  We  are  all  liable  to  be  mistaken !  "  he  mut- 
tered, in  a  confused  tone. 

"  Then  be  a  little  more  careful  next  time,  both  of 
you!  My  boy,  I  congratulate  you  on  your  trium- 
phant vindication." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  for  it.  I  should  have  stood  a 
very  poor  chance  without  your  help." 

The  tide  was  turned,  and  the  uncharitable  pair 
found  so  many  unfriendly  glances  fixed  upon  them 
that  they  were  glad  to  leave  the  car  at  the  next 
crossing. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

TOM    BROOKS    IN    TROUBLE 

"  I  begin  to  think  I  am  the  favorite  of  fortune," 
thought  Luke.  "  Ten  dollars  will  more  than  pay 
a  month's  rent.  Mother  will  feel  easy  now  about 
her  loss  of  employment." 

Some  boys  would  have  felt  like  taking  a  holiday 
for  the  balance  of.  the  day,  perhaps,  or  going  to  a 
place  of  amusement,  but  Luke  bought  his  evening 
papers  as  usual.  He  had  but  half  a  dozen  left  when 
his  new  acquaintance,  Stephen  Webb,  sauntered 
along. 

"How's  business,  Luke?"  he  asked. 

"  Very  fair,  thank  you." 

"  Give  me  a  News." 

Stephen  passed  over  a  penny  in  payment,  but  did 
not  seem  inclined  to  go  away. 

"  I  meant  to  see  you  before,"  he  said,  "  but  my 
time  got  filled  up." 

"  Have  you  taken  a  situation,  then?  "  asked  Luke. 

"  No,  I  am  still  a  man  of  leisure.  Why  don't  you 
hire  a  small  store,  and  do  a  general  periodical  busi- 
ness? It  would  pay  you  better." 

"  No  doubt  it  would,  but  it  would  take  money  to 
open  and  stock  such  a  store." 

80 


LUKE   WALTON  81 

"  I  may  make  a  proposition  to  you  some  time  to 
go  in  with  me,  I  furnishing  the  capital,  and  you 
managing  the  business." 

"  I  am  always  open  to  a  good  offer,"  said  Luke, 
smiling. 

Stephen  Webb's  available  capital  was  less  than 
Luke's,  but  he  wanted  to  create  the  impression  that 
he  was  a  man  of  means,  and  also  to  worm  himself 
into  the  newsboy's  confidence. 

"  I  suppose  I  ought  to  have  some  business,  but 
I'm  a  social  kind  of  fellow,  and  should  want  a 
partner,  a  smart,  enterprising,  trustworthy  person 
like  you." 

"  Thank  you  for  the  compliment." 

"  Never  mind  that !  I  am  a  judge  of  human 
nature,  and  I  felt  confidence  in  you  at  once." 

Somehow  Luke  was  not  altogether  inclined  to 
take  Stephen  Webb  at  his  own  valuation.  His  new 
acquaintance  did  not  impress  him  as  a  reliable  man 
of  business,  but  he  had  no  suspicion  of  anything 
underhand. 

By  this  time  Luke  had  disposed  of,  his  remaining 
papers. 

"  I  am  through  for  the  day,"  he  said,  "  and  shall 
go  home." 

"  Do  you  walk  or  ride  ?  " 

"  I  walk." 

"If  you  don't  mind,  I  will  walk  along  with  you. 
I  haven't  taken  much  exercise  to-day." 

Luke  had  no  reason  for  declining  this  proposal, 


8*  LUKE   WALTON 

and  accepted  Stephen's  companionship.  They 
walked  on  Clark  Street  to  the  bridge,  and  crossed 
the  river.  Presently  they  reached  Milwaukee  Ave- 
nue. 

"  Isn't  the  walk  too  long  for  you  ?  "  asked  Luke. 

"  Oh,  no !  I  can  walk  any  distance  when  I  have 
company.  I  shall  take  a  car  back." 

Stephen  accompanied  the  newsboy  as  far  as  his 
own  door.  He  would  like  to  have  been  invited  up, 
but  Luke  did  not  care  to  give  him  such  an  invita- 
tion. Though  Stephen  seemed  very  friendly,  he  was 
not  one  with  whom  he  cared  to  cultivate  intimate 
relations. 

"  Well,  so  long !  "  said  Stephen,  with  his  "  good- 
night," "  I  shall  probably  see  you  to-morrow." 

"  I  have  found  out  where  they  live,"  thought 
Stephen.  "  On  the  whole,  I  am  making  a  very  good 
detective.  I'll  drop  a  line  to  Uncle  Thomas  this 
evening." 

Meanwhile,  Luke  went  upstairs  two  steps  at  a 
time.  He  was  the  bearer  of  good  tidings,  and  that 
always  quickens  the  steps. 

He  found  his  mother  sitting  in  her  rocking-chair 
with  a  sober  face. 

"  Well,  mother,"  he  asked,  gayly,  "  how  have  you 
passed  the  day  ?  " 

"  Very  unprofitably,  Luke.  I  went  out  this  after- 
noon, and  visited  two  places  where  I  thought  they 
might .  have  some  sewing  for  me,  but  I  only  met 
,vith  disappointment.  Now  that  I  have  a  sewing 


LUKE    WALTON  83 

machine,  it  is  a  great  pity  that  I  can't  make  use 
of  it." 

"  Don't  be  troubled,  mother !  We  can  get  along 
well  enough." 

"  But  we  have  only  your  earnings  to  depend  upon, 
Luke." 

"  If  I  always  have  as  good  a  day  as  this,  we  can 
depend  on  those  very  easily." 

"  Did  you  earn  much,  Luke  ?  "  asked  Bennie. 

"  I  earned  a  lot  of  money." 

Mrs.  Walton  looked  interested,  and  Luke's  man- 
ner cheered  her. 

"  There  are  always  compensations,  it  seems.  I 
was  only  thinking  of  my  own  bad  luck." 

"  What  do  you  say  to  that,  mother  ?  "  and  Luke 
displayed  the  ten-dollar  bill. 

"  I  don't  understand  how  you  could  have  taken 
in  so  much  money,  Luke." 

"  Then  I  will  explain,"  and  Luke  told  the  story 
of  the  adventure  on  State  Street,  and  his  rescue  of 
the  old  lady  from  the  danger  of  being  run  over. 

"  The  best  of  it  is,"  he  concluded,  "  I  think  I  shall 
get  regular  employment  for  part  of  my  time  from 
Mrs.  Merton.  Whatever  I  do  for  her  will  be  lib- 
erally paid  for." 

Luke  went  to  a  bakery  for  some  cream  cakes, 
of  which  Bennie  v/as  particularly  fond,  as  an  addi- 
tion to  their  frugal  supper,'  and  the  evening  was 
passed  in  a  very  cheerful  and  hopeful  fashion. 

At  the  same  time  Stephen  Webb  was  busily  en- 


84  LUKE   WALTON 

gaged  in  the  writing  room  of  the  Palmer  House, 
inditing  a  letter  to  his  uncle.  We  will  take  the 
liberty  of  looking  over  his  shoulder  while  he  writes : 

"  DEAR  UNCLE  THOMAS  :  I  have  devoted  my 
whole  time  to  the  task  which  you  assigned  me,  and 
have  met  with  very  good  success.  I  found  the  boy 
uncommunicative,  and  had  to  exert  all  my  inge- 
nuity." 

Of  the  accuracy  of  this  and  other  statements,  the 
reader  will  judge  for  himself. 

"  The  boy  has  a  mother  and  a  younger  brother. 
They  depend  for  support  chiefly  upon  what  he  can 
earn,  though  the  mother  does  a  little  sewing,  but 
that  doesn't  bring  in  much.  They  live  in  Green 
Street,  near  Milwaukee  Avenue.  I  have  been  there, 
and  seen  the  house  where  they  reside.  It  is  a  hum- 
ble place,  but  as  good,  I  presume,  as  they  can  afford. 
No  doubt  they  are  very  poor,  and  have  all  they  can 
do  to  make  both  ends  meet. 

"  I  have  learned  this  much,  but  have  had  to  work 
hard  to  do  it.  Of  course,  I  need  not  say  that  I  shall 
spare  no  pains  to  meet  your  expectations.  If  you 
should  take  me  into  your  confidence,  and  give  me 
an  idea  of  w*hat  more  you  wish  to  know,  I  feel  sure 
that  I  can  manage  to  secure  all  needed  information. 
Your  dutiful  nephew, 

STEPHEN  WEBB." 


LUKE   WALTON  85 

Thomas  Browning,  in  his  Milwaukee  home,  read 
this  letter  with  satisfaction. 

"  My  nephew  seems  curious,"  he  said,  medita- 
tively ;  "  but  I  do  not  feel  disposed  to  tell  him  my 
object  in  looking  up  those  Waltons.  If  he  knew 
my  secret  he  would  be  likely  to  trade  upon  it.  That 
way  of  making  a  living  would  suit  him  better  than 
solid  work." 

He  wrote  briefly  to  his  nephew : 

"  You  have  done  well  thus  far,  and  I  appreciate 
your  zeal.  Get  the  boy  to  talking  about  his  father, 
if  you  can.  Let  me  hear  anything  he  may  say  on 
this  subject.  As  to  my  motive,  I  suspect  that  Mr. 
Walton  may  have  been  an  early  acquaintance  of 
mine.  If  so,  I  may  feel  disposed  to  do  something 
for  the  family." 

"  Uncle  Thomas  may  tell  that  to  the  marines," 
said  the  astute  Stephen.  "  He  can't  humbug  me  by 
posing  as  a  philanthropist.  He  looks  out  for  num- 
ber one  every  time.  I'll  follow  up  this  matter,  and 
I  may  learn  more  in  course  of  time." 

On  his  way  to  the  Sherman  House,  the  next 
morning,  Luke  witnessed  rather  an  exciting  scene, 
in  which  his  old  friend,  Tom  Brooks,  played  a 
prominent  part. 

There  was  a  Chinese  laundry  on  Milwaukee  Ave- 
nue kept  by  a  couple  of  Chinamen  who  were  peace- 
ably disposed  if  not  interfered  with.  But  several 


86  LUKE    WALTON 

boys,  headed  by  Tom  Brooks,  had  repeatedly  an- 
noyed the  laundrymen,  and  excited  their  resent- 
ment. 

On  this  particular  morning  Tom  sent  a  stone 
crashing  through  the  window  of  Ah  King.  The 
latter  had  been  on  the  watch,  and,  provoked  beyond 
self-control,  rushed  out  into  the  street,  wild  with 
rage,  and  pursued  Tom  with  a  flatiron  in  his  hand. 

"  Help !  help !  murder !  "  exclaimed  Tom,  panic- 
stricken,  running  away  as  fast  as  his  legs  would 
carry  him. 

But  anger,  excited  by  the  broken  window,  lent 
wings  to  the  Chinaman's  feet,  and  he  gained  rapidly 
upon  the  young  aggressor. 


CHAPTER   XIV 

LUKE    HAS    A    COOL    RECEPTION    IN    PRAIRIE    AVENUE 

Tom  Brooks  had  reason  to  feel  alarmed,  for  his 
Chinese  pursuer  was  very  much  in  earnest,  and 
fully  intended  to  strike  Tom  with  the  flatiron. 
Though  this  was  utterly  wrong,  some  excuse  must 
be  made  for  Ah  King,  who  had  frequently  been 
annoyed  by  Tom. 

It  was  at  this  critical  juncture  that  Luke  Walton 
appeared  on  the  scene. 

He  had  no  reason  to  like  Tom,  but  he  instantly 
prepared  to  rescue  him.  Fortunately,  he  knew  Ah 
King,  whom  he  had  more  than  once  protected  from 
the  annoyance  of  the  hoodlums  of  the  neighborhood. 

Luke  ran  up  and  seized  the  Chinaman  by  the 
arm. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ? "  he  demanded, 
sternly. 

"  Fool  boy  bleak  my  window,"  said  Ah  King.  "  I 
bleak  his  head." 

"  No,  you  mustn't  do  that.  The  police  will  arrest 
you." 

"  Go  'way !  Me  killee  white  boy,"  cried  Ah  King, 
impatiently,  trying  to  shake  off  Luke's  grasp.  "  He 
bleak  window — cost  me  a  dollee." 

87 


88  LUKE   WALTON 

"  I'll  see  that  he  pays  it,  or  is  arrested,"  said 
Luke. 

Unwillingly  Ah  King  suffered  himself  to  be  per- 
suaded, more  readily,  perhaps,  that  Tom  was  now 
at  a  safe  distance. 

"  You  plomise  me  ?  "  said  Ah  King. 

"  Yes ;  if  he  don't  pay,  I  will.  Go  and  get  the 
window  mended." 

Luke  easily  overtook  Tom,  who  was  looking 
round  the  corner  to  see  how  matters  were  going. 

"  Has  he  gone  back  ?  "  asked  Tom,  rather  anx- 
iously. 

"  Yes,  but  if  I  hadn't  come  along,  he  would,  per- 
haps, have  killed  you." 

"  You  only  say  that  to  scare  me,"  said  Tom,  un- 
easily. 

"  No,  I  don't ;  I  mean  it.  Do  you  know  how  I 
got  you  off  ?  " 

"How?" 

"  I  told  Ah  King  you  would  pay  for  the  broken 
window.  It  will  cost  a  dollar." 

"  I  didn't  promise,"  said  Tom,  significantly. 

"  No,"  said  Luke,  sternly,  "  but  if  you  don't  do  it, 
I  will  myself  have  you  arrested.  I  saw  you  throw 
the  stone  at  the  window." 

"What  concern  is  it  of  yours?"  asked  Tom, 
angrily.  "  Why  do  you  meddle  with  my  busi- 
ness?" 

"  If  I  hadn't  meddled  with  your  business,  you 
might  have  a  fractured  skull  by  this  time.  It  is  a 


LUKE   WALTON  89 

contemptibly  mean  thing  to  annoy  a  poor  China- 
man." 

"  He's  only  a  heathen." 

"  A  well-behaved  heathen  is  better  than  a  Chris- 
tian such  as  you  are." 

"  I  don't  want  any  lectures,"  said  Tom,  in  a  sulky 
tone. 

"  I  presume  not.  I  have  nothing  more  to  say 
except  that  I  expect  you  to  hand  me  that  dollar  to- 
night." 

"  I  haven't  got  a  dollar." 

"  Then  you  had  better  get  one.  I  don't  believe 
you  got  a  dollar's  worth  of  sport  in  breaking  the 
window,  and  I  advise  you  hereafter  to  spend  your 
money  better." 

"  I  don't  believe  I  will  pay  it,"  said  Tom,  eying 
Luke  closely,  to  see  if  he  were  in  earnest. 

"  Then  I  will  report  your  case  to  the  police." 

"  You're  a  mean  fellow,"  said  Tom,  angrily. 

"  I  begin  to  be  sorry  I  interfered  to  save  you. 
However,  take  your  choice.  If  necessary,  I  will 
pay  the  dollar  myself,  for  I  have  promised  Ah 
King;  but  I  shall  keep  my  word  about  having  you 
arrested." 

It  was  a  bitter  pill  for  Tom  to  swallow,  but  he 
managed  to  raise  the  money,  and  handed  it  to  Luke 
that  evening.  Instead  of  being  grateful  to  the  one 
who  had  possibly  saved  his  life,  he  was  only  the 
more  incensed  against  him,  and  longed  for  an  op- 
portunity to  do  him  an  injury. 


90  LUKE    WALTON 

"  I  hate  that  Luke  Walton,"  he  said  to  one  of  his 
intimate  friends.  "  He  wants  to  boss  me,  and  all 
of  us,  but  he  can't  do  it.  He's  only  fit  to  keep  com- 
pany with  a  heathen  Chinee." 

Luke  spent  but  a  couple  of  hours  in  selling 
papers.  He  had  not  forgotten  his  engagement  with 
Mrs.  Merton,  and  punctually  at  ten  o'clock  he 
pulled  the  bell  of  the  house  in  Prairie  Avenue. 

Just  at  that  moment  the  door  was  opened,  and 
he  faced  a  boy  of  his  own  age,  a  thin,  dark-com- 
plexioned youth,  of  haughty  bearing.  This,  no 
doubt,  he  concluded,  was  Harold  Tracy. 

"What  do  you  want?"  he  asked,  superciliously. 

"  I  should  like  to  see  Mrs.  Merton." 

"  Humph !  What  business  have  you  with  Mrs. 
Merton  ?  " 

Luke  was  not  favorably  impressed  with  Harold's 
manner,  and  did  not  propose  to  treat  him  with 
the  consideration  which  he  evidently  thought  his 
due. 

"  I  come  here  at  Mrs.  Merton's  request,"  he  said, 
briefly.  "  As  to  what  business  we  have  together, 
I  refer  you  to  her." 

"  It  strikes  me  that  you  are  impudent,"  retorted 
Harold,  angrily. 

"  Your  opinion  of  me  is  of  no  importance  to  me. 
If  you  don't  care  to  let  Mrs.  Merton  know  I  am 
here,  I  will  ring  again  and  ask  the  servant  to  do 
so." 

Here  a  lady,  bearing  a  strong  personal  resem- 


LUKE    WALTON  91 

blance  to  Harold,  made  her  appearance,  entering  the 
hall  from  the  breakfast  room  in  the  rear. 

"What  is  it,  Harold?"  she  asked,  in  a  tone  of 
authority. 

"  Here  is  a  boy  who  says  he  wants  to  see  Aunt 
Eliza." 

"  What  can  he  want  with  her  ?  " 

"  I  asked  him,  but  he  won't  tell." 

"  I  must  trouble  him  to  tell  me,"  said  Mrs. 
Tracy,  closing  her  thin  mouth  with  a  snap. 

"  Like  mother — like  son,"  thought  Luke. 

"  Do  you  hear?  "  demanded  Mrs.  Tracy,  unpleas- 
antly. 

"  I  am  here  by  Mrs.  Merton's  appointment,  Mrs. 
Tracy,"  said  Luke,  firmly.  "  I  shall  be  glad  to 
have  her  informed  that  I  have  arrived." 

"  And  who  are  you,  may  I  ask?  " 

"  Perhaps  you've  got  your  card  about  you  ? " 
sneered  Harold. 

"  I  have,"  answered  Luke,  quietly. 

With  a  comical  twinkle  in  his  eye,  he  offered  one 
to  Harold. 

"  Luke  Walton,"  repeated  Harold. 

"  Yes,  that  is  my  name." 

"  I  don't  think  my  aunt  will  care  to  see  you,"  said 
Mrs.  Tracy,  who  was  becoming  more  and  more 
provoked  with  the  "  upstart  boy,"  as  she  mentally 
termed  him. 

"  Perhaps  it  would  be  better  to  let  her  know  I  am 
here." 


92  LUKE    WALTON 

"  It  is  quite  unnecessary.  I  will  take  the  respon- 
sibility." 

Luke  was  quite  in  doubt  as  to  what  he  ought  to 
do.  He  could  not  very  well  prevent  Harold's 
closing  the  door,  in  obedience  to  his  mother's  direc- 
tions, but  fortunately  the  matter  was  taken  out  of 
his  hands  by  the  old  lady  herself,  who,  unobserved 
by  Harold  and  his  mother,  had  been  listening  to 
the  conversation  from  the  upper  landing.  When 
she  saw  her  visitor  about  to  be  turned  out  of  the 
house,  she  thought  it  quite  time  to  interfere. 

'"Louisa,"  she  called,  in  a  tone  of  displeasure, 
"  you  will  oblige  me  by  not  meddling  with  my  visi- 
tors. Luke,  come  upstairs." 

Luke  could  not  forbear  a  smile  of  triumph  as  he 
passed  Harold  and  Mrs.  Tracy,  and  noticed  the  look 
of  discomfiture  on  their  faces. 

"  I  didn't  know  he  'was  your  visitor,  Aunt 
Eliza,"  said  Mrs.  Tracy,  trembling  with  the  anger 
she  did  not  venture  to  display  before  her  wealthy 
relative. 

"Didn't  he  say  so?"  asked  Mrs.  Merton, 
sharply. 

"  Yes,  but  I  was  not  sure  that  he  was  not  an  im- 
postor." 

"  You  had  only  to  refer  the  matter  to  me,  and 
I  could  have  settled  the  question.  Luke  is  in  my 
employ " 

"  In  your  employ?  "  repeated  Mrs.  Tracy,  in  sur- 
priie. 


LUKE   WALTON  93 

"  Yes ;  he  will  do  errands  for  me,  and  sometimes 
accompany  me  to  the  city." 

"  Why  didn't  you  call  on  Harold  ?  He  would  be 
very  glad  to  be  of  service  to  you." 

"  Harold  had  other  things  to  occupy  him.  I 
prefer  the  other  arrangement.  Luke,  come  into 
my  room  and  I  will  give  you  directions." 

Mrs.  Tracy  and  Harold  looked  at  each  other  as 
the  old  lady  and  Luke  disappeared. 

"  This  is  a  new  freak  of  Aunt  Eliza's,"  said  Mrs. 
Tracy.  "  Why  does  she  pass  over  you,  and  give 
the  preference  to  this  upstart  boy?  " 

"  I  don't  mind  that,  mother,"  replied  Harold.  "  I 
don't  want  to  be  dancing  attendance  on  an  old 
woman." 

"  But  she  may  take  a  fancy  to  this  boy — she  seems 
to  have  done  so  already — and  give  him  part  of  the 
money  that  ought  to  be  yours." 

"  If  we  find  there  is  any  danger  of  that,  I  guess 
we  are  smart  enough  to  set  her  against  him.  Let 
her  have  the  boy  for  a  servant  if  she  wishes." 

"  I  don't  know  but  you  are  right,  Harold.  We 
must  be  very  discreet,  for  Aunt  Eliza  is  worth  half 
a  million." 

"  And  how  old  is  she,  mother?  " 

"  Seventy-one." 

"  That's  pretty  old.     She  can't  live  many  years." 

"  I  hope  she  will  live  to  a  good  old  age,"  said 
Mrs.  Tracy,  hypocritically,  "but  when  she  dies,  it 
is  only  fair  that  we  should  have  her  money." 


CHAPTER  XV 

A    WELCOME    GIFT 

When  Luke  and  Mrs.  Merton  were  alone,  the 
old  lady  said,  with  a  smile :  "  You  seemed  to  have 
some  difficulty  in  getting  into  the  house." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Luke.  "  I  don't  think  your 
nephew  likes  me." 

"  Probably  not.  Both  he  and  his  mother  are 
afraid  someone  will  come  between  me  and  them. 
They  are  selfish,  and  cannot  understand  how  I  can 
have  any  other  friends  or  beneficiaries.  You  are 
surprised  that  I  $peak  so  openly  of  such  near  rela- 
tives to  such  a  comparative  stranger.  However,  it 
is  my  nature  to  be  outspoken.  And  now,  Luke,  if 
you  don't  think  it  will  be  tiresome  to  escort  an  old 
woman,  I  mean  to  take  you  downtown  with  me." 

"  I  look  upon  you  as  a  kind  friend,  Mrs.  Merton," 
responded  Luke,  earnestly.  "  I  want  to  thank  you 
for  the  handsome  present  you  made  me  yesterday. 
I  didn't  expect  anything  like  ten  dollars." 

"  You  will  find  it  acceptable,  however,  I  don't 
doubt.  Seriously,  Luke,  I  don't  think  it's  too  much 
to  pay  for  saving  my  life.  Now,  if  you  will  wait 
here  five  minutes,  I  will  be  ready  to  go  out  with 
you." 

94 


LUKE   WALTON  95 

Five  .minutes  later  Mrs.  Merton  came  into  the 
room  attired  for  the  street.  They  went  downstairs 
together,  and  Luke  and  she  got  on  board  a  street 
car. 

They  were  observed  by  Mrs.  Tracy  and  Harold 
as  they  left  the  house. 

"  Aunt  Eliza's  very  easily  imposed  upon,"  re- 
marked the  latter. 

"  She  scarcely  knows  anything  of  that  boy,  and 
she  has  taken  him  out  with  her.  How  does  she 
know  but  he  is  a  thief  ?  " 

"  He  looks  like  one,"  said  Harold,  in  an  amiable 
tone.  "  If  aunt  is  robbed,  I  shan't  pity  her.  She 
will  deserve  it." 

"  Very  true ;  but  you  must  remember  that  it  will 
be  our  loss  as  well  as  hers.  Her  property  will 
rightfully  come  to  us,  and  if  she  is  robbed  we  shall 
inherit  so  much  the  less." 

"  You're  sharp,  mother.     I  didn't  think  of  that." 

"  I  have  been  thinking,  Harold,  it  may  be  well 
for  you  to  find  out  something  of  this  boy.  If  you 
can  prove  to  Aunt  Eliza  that  he  is  of  bad  character, 
she  will  send  him  adrift." 

"  I'll  see  about  it,  mother.  I  don't  like  him  at 
all." 

Meanwhile  Mrs.  Merton  and  Luke  were  on  their 
way  to  the  business  portion  of  the  city. 

"  I  think  I  will  stop  at  Adams  Street,  Luke," 
said  the  old  lady.  "  I  shall  have  to  go  to  the  Con- 
tinental Bank.  Do  you  know  where  it  is  ?  " 


96  LUKE    WALTON 

"  I  believe  it  is  on  La  Salle  Street,  comer  of 
Adams." 

"  Quite  right.  I  shall  introduce  you  to  the  pay- 
ing teller  as  in  my  employ,  as  I  may  have  occasion  to 
send  you  there  alone  at  times  to  deposit  or  draw 
money." 

From  where  the  cars  left  them  the  old  lady 
walked  with  Luke  to  the  bank. 

"  I  wish  Harold  was  more  like  you,"  she  said. 
"His  mother's  suggestion  that  I  should  take  him 
with  me  as  an  escort  would  be  just  as  disagreeable 
to  him  as  to  me." 

"  Is  he  attending  school  ?  "  asked  Luke. 

"  Yes.  He  is  preparing  for  college,  but  he  is 
not  fond  of  study,  and  I  doubt  whether  he  ever 
enters.  I  think  he  must  be  about  your  age." 

"  I  am  nearly  sixteen." 

"  Then  he  is  probably  a  little  older." 

They  entered  the  bank,  and  Mrs.  Merton,  going 
to  the  window  of  the  paying  teller,  presented  a 
check  for  a  hundred  dollars. 

"  How  will  you  have  it,  Mrs.  Merton  ?  "  asked  the 
teller. 

"In  fives  and  tens.  By  the  way,  Mr.  Northrop, 
please  take  notice  of  this  boy  with  me.  I  shall  oc- 
casionally send  him  by  himself  to  attend  to  my 
business.  His  name  is  Luke  Walton." 

"  His  face  looks  familiar.  I  think  we  have  met 
before." 

"  I  have  sold  you  papers  more  than  once,  Mr. 


LUKE    WALTON  97 

Northrop,"  said  Luke.  "  I  stand  on  Qark  Street, 
near  the  Sherman." 

"  Yes,  I  remember,  now.  We  bank  officials  are 
apt  to  take  notice  of  faces." 

"  Here,  Luke,  carry  this  money  for  me,"  said 
Mrs.  Merton,  putting  a  lady's  pocketbook  into  the 
hand  of  her  young  escort.  "  You  are  less  likely  to 
be  robbed  than  I." 

Luke  was  rather  pleased  at  the  full  confidence 
his  new  employer  seemed  to  repose  in  him. 

"  I  am  now  going  up  on  State  Street,"  said  Mrs. 
Merton,  as  they  emerged  into  the  street.  "  You 
know  the  store  of  Marshall  Field  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes ;  everybody  in  Chicago  knows  that," 
said  Luke. 

"  I  am  going  there." 

For  a  lady  of  her  years,  Mrs.  Merton  was  a  fair 
walker.  In  a  few  minutes  they  stood  before  the 
large  store,  and  Mrs.  Merton  entered,  followed  by 
Luke. 

Mrs.  Merton  went  to  that  part  of  the  establish- 
ment where  woolens  are  sold,  and  purchased  a  dress 
pattern.  To  Luke's  surprise,  the  salesman  was  the 
same  one  who  had  come  to  his  assistance  in  the  car 
the  day  previous  when  he  was  charged  with  steal- 
ing. The  recognition  was  mutual, 

"  I  believe  we  have  met  before,"  said  the  young 
man,  with  a  smile. 

"  Yes,  fortunately  for  me,"  answered  Luke,  grate- 
fully. 


98  LUKE   WALTON 

"  The  two  parties  who  were  determined  to  find 
you  guilty  looked  foolish  when  they  ascertained 
the  real  character  of  your  accuser." 

"  What  is  this,  Luke  ?  You  didn't  tell  me  of  it/' 
said  Mrs.  Merton. 

The  story  was  related  briefly. 

"  I  should  like  to  meet  that  woman,"  said  Mrs. 
Merton,  nodding  energetically.  "  I'd  give  her  a 
piece  of  my  mind.  Luke,  you  may  hand  me  ten 
dollars." 

The  goods  were  wrapped  up  and  the  change  re- 
turned. 

"  Where  shall  I  send  the  bundle,  Mrs.  Merton?  " 
asked  the  salesman,  deferentially. 

"  Luke  will  take  it." 

As  they  left  the  store,  Mrs.  Merton  said :  "  Did 
you  think  I  was  buying  this  dress  for  myself, 
Luke?" 

"  I  thought  so,"  Luke  answered. 

"  No,  I  have  dresses  enough  to  last  me  a  lifetime, 
I  may  almost  say.  This  dress  pattern  is  for  your 
mother." 

"  For  my  mother?  "  repeated  Luke,  joyfully. 

"  Yes ;  I  hope  it  will  be  welcome." 

"  Indeed  it  will.  Mother  hasn't  had  a  new  dress 
for  over  a  year." 

"  Then  I  guessed  right.  Give  it  to  her  with  my 
compliments,  and  tell  her  I  give  it  to  her  for  your 
sake.  Now,  I  believe  I  will  go  home." 

No  present  made  to  Luke  could  have  given  him 


LUKE   WALTON  99 

so  much  pleasure  as  this  gift  to  his  mother,  for  he 
knew  how  much  she  stood  in  need  of  it. 

When  they  reached  the  house  on  Prairie  Ave- 
nue, they  met  Mrs.  Tracy  on  the  steps.  She  had 
been  out  for  a  short  call. 

"  Did  you  have  a  pleasant  morning,  Aunt 
Eliza  ?  "  she  asked,  quite  ignoring  Luke. 

"  Yes,  quite  so.  Luke,  I  won't  trouble  you  to 
come  in.  I  shall  not  need  you  to-morrow.  The 
next  day  you  may  call  at  the  same  hour." 

Luke  turned  away,  but  was  called  back  sharply 
by  Mrs.  Tracy. 

"  Boy,"  she  said,  "  you  are  taking  away  my  aunt's 
bundle.  Bring  it  back  directly." 

"  Louisa,"  said  the  old  lady,  "  don't  trouble  your- 
self. That  bundle  is  meant  for  Luke's  mother." 

"  Something  you  bought  for  her?  " 

"  Yes,  a  dress  pattern." 

"  Oh !  "  sniffed  Mrs.  Tracy,  eying  Luke  with 
strong  disapproval.  "  Do  you  know  anything  about 
this  boy  ?  "  she  asked  as  they  entered  the  house. 

"Yes.     Why?" 

"  I  hope  he  won't  impose  upon  you  ?  " 

"  Thank  you.     I  am  not  a  child,  Louisa." 

"  The  boy  looks  artful." 

"  I  can't  say  much  for  your  discrimination." 

"  If  anything  happens,  you  will  remember  that 
I  warned  you." 

"  I  shall  remember,"  said  the  old  lady,  with  an 
amused  smile. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THOMAS  BROWNING  AT  HOME 

In  one  of  the  handsomest  streets  in  Milwaukee 
stood  a  private  residence  which  was  quite  in  har- 
mony with  its  surroundings.  It  looked  like  the 
home  of  a  man  of  ample  means.  It  was  luxuri- 
ously furnished,  and  at  one  side  was  a  conservatory. 
It  was  very  apt  to  attract  the  attention  of  strangers, 
and  the  question  was  frequently  asked :  "  Who  lives 
there?" 

And  the  answer  would  be :  "  Thomas  Browning, 
one  of  our  most  prominent  citizens.  He  will  prob- 
ably be  mayor  some  day." 

Yes,  this  was  the  residence  of  Thomas  Browning, 
formerly  Thomas  Butler,  the  man  to  whom  the  dead 
father  of  Luke  Walton  had  intrusted  the  sum  of 
ten  thousand  dollars  to  carry  to  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren. How  he  fulfilled  his  trust,  or,  rather,  did  not 
fulfill  it,  we  already  know.  But  in  Milwaukee,  where 
Mr.  Browning  had  become  a  leading  citizen,  it  was 
not  known.  It  was  entirely  inconsistent  with  what 
was  believed  to  be  his  character.  For  Mr.  Browning 
was  president  of  one  charitable  society  and  treasure! 
of  another.  At  the  annual  meetings  of  these  so 

100 


LUKE    WALTON  101 

cieties  he  was  always  called  upon  to  speak,  and  his 
allusions  to  the  poverty  and  privations  of  those  who 
were  cared  for  by  these  societies  never  failed  to 
produce  an  impression. 

"  What  a  good  man  he  is ! "  said  many  who 
listened  with  sympathetic  interest. 

It  was  popularly  supposed  that  he  gave  away 
large  sums  in  charity*  Indeed,  he  admitted  the  fact, 
but  explained  the  absence  of  his  name  from  sub- 
scription papers  by  saying :  "  All  my  gifts  are  an- 
onymous. Instead-of  giving  my  name,  I  prefer  to  put 
down  '  Cash,'  so  much,  or  '  A  Friend,'  such  another 
sum.  I  don't  wish  to  influence  others,  but  it  jars 
upon  me  to  have  my  name  ostentatiously  paraded 
in  the  public  prints." 

Now,  in  all  subscriptions  there  are  donations  as- 
cribed to  "  Cash  "  and  "  A  Friend,"  and  whenever 
these  occurred,  it  was  generally  supposed  they  rep- 
resented Mr.  Browning.  But,  to  let  the  reader 
into  a  little  secret,  this  was  only  a  shrewd  device 
of  Mr.  Browning's  to  have  the  reputation  of  a  phil- 
anthropist at  little  or  no  expense,  for,  as  a  matter 
of  fact,  he  never  contributed  at  all  to  the  charities 
in  which  he  seemed  to  take  such  an  interest ! 

In  a  pleasant  room  on  the  second  floor  sat  the 
pseudo-philanthropist.  The  room  was  furnished  as 
a  library.  At  a  writing  table,  poring  over  what 
looked  like  an  account  book,  he  looked  the  picture 
of  comfort  and  respectability.  A  few  well-chosen 
engravings  adorned  the  walls.  A  pleasant  light 


102  LUKE   WALTON 

was  diffused  about  the  room  from  a  chandelier  sus- 
pended over  the  table. 

Thomas  Browning  leaned  back  in  his  chair,  and 
a  placid  smile  overspread  his  naturally  harsh  fea- 
tures. He  looked  about  him,  and  his  thoughts 
somehow  ran  back  to  a  time  when  he  was  very 
differently  situated. 

"  Five  years  ago  to-night,"  he  said,  "  I  was  well- 
nigh  desperate.  I  hadn't  a  cent  to  bless  myself 
with,  nor  was  the  prospect  of  getting  one  particu- 
larly bright.  How  I  lived,  for  a  considerable  time, 
I  hardly  know.  I  did  have  a  notion  at  one  time, 
when  I  was  particularly  down  on  my  luck,  of  com- 
mitting suicide,  and  so  ending  the  struggle  once 
for  all.  It  would  have  been  a  great  mistake !  "  he 
added  after  a  pause.  "  I  didn't  foresee  at  the 
time  the  prosperous  years  that  lay  before  me. 
Frederick  Walton's  money  changed  my  whole  life. 
Ten  thousand  dollars  isn't  a  fortune,  but  it  proved 
the  basis  of  one.  It  enabled  me  to  float  the  Excel- 
sior Mine.  I  remember  there  were  a  hundred 
thousand  shares  at  two  dollars  a  share,  all  based 
upon  a  few  acres  of  mining  land  which  I  bought 
for  a  song.  With  the  ten  thousand  dollars,  I 
hired  an  office,  printed  circulars,  distributed  glowing 
accounts  of  imaginary  wealth,  etc.  It  cost  consider- 
able for  advertising,  but  I  sold  seventy  thousand 
shares,  and  when  I  had  gathered  in  the  money  I 
let  the  bottom  fall  out.  There  was  a  great  fuss,  of 
course,  but  I  figured  as  the  largest  loser,  being  the 


LUKE   WALTON  103 

owner  of  thirty  thousand  shares  ( for  which  I  hadn't 
paid  a  cent),  and  so  shared  the  sympathy  extended 
to  losers.  It  was  a  nice  scheme,  and  after  deduct- 
ing all  expenses,  I  made  a  clean  seventy-five  thou- 
sand dollars  out  of  it,  which,  added  to  my  original 
capital,  made  eighty-five  thousand.  Then  I  came 
to  Milwaukee  and  bought  this  house.  From  that 
time  my  career  has  been  upward  and  onward.  My 
friends  say  some  day  I  shall  be  mayor  of  the  city. 
Well,  stranger  things  have  happened,  and  who 
knows  but  my  friends  may  be  right !  " 

At  this  moment  a  servant  entered  the  library. 

"  Well,  Mary,  what  is  it?  "  asked  the  philanthro- 
pist. 

"  Please,  sir,  there's  a  poor  woman  at  the  door, 
and  she  would  like  to  see  you." 

"  Ah,  yes,  she  wants  relief  from  the  Widows'  and 
Orphans'  Society,  probably.  Well,  send  her  up. 
I  am  always  at  home  to  the  poor." 

"  What  a  good  man  he  is !  "  thought  Mary.  "  It's 
strange  he  gives  such  low  wages  to  the  girls  that 
work  for  him.  He  says  it's  because  he  gives  away 
so  much  money  in  charities." 

Mary  ushered  in,  a  moment  later,  a  woman  in  a 
faded  dress,  with  a  look  of  care  and  sorrow  on  her 
thin  features. 

"  Take  a  seat,  madam,"  said  Thomas  Browning, 
urbanely.  "  Did  you  wish  to  see  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  am  in  difficulties,  and  have  ventured 
to  call  upon  you." 


io4  LUKE   WALTON 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you.  I  am  always  ready  to  see 
the  unfortunate." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  know  you  have  the  reputation  of 
being  a  philanthropist." 

"  No,  no,"  said  Mr.  Browning,  modestly.  "  Don't 
mention  it.  I  am  fully  aware  of  the  flattering  esti- 
mation which  is  placed  on  my  poor  services,  but 
I  really  don't  deserve  it.  It  is,  perhaps,  as  the 
President  of  the  Widows'  and  Orphans'  Charitable 
Society  that  you  wish  to  speak  to  me." 

"  No,  sir.  It  is  as  President  of  the  Excelsior 
Mining  Company  that  I  wish  to  make  an  appeal 
to  you." 

"  Oh !  "  ejaculated  Browning,  with  a  perceptible 
change  of  countenance. 

"  Of  course  you  remember  it,  sir.  I  was  a 
widow,  with  a  small  property  of  five  thousand  dol- 
lars left  me  by  my  late  husband.  It  was  all  I  had 
on  which  to  support  myself  and  two  children.  The 
banks  paid  poor  interest,  and  I  was  in  search  of  a 
profitable  investment.  One  of  your  circulars  fell 
into  my  hands.  The  shares  were  two  dollars  each, 
and  it  was  stated  that  they  would  probably  yield 
fifty  per  cent,  dividends.  That  would  support  me 
handsomely.  But  I  didn't  decide  to  invest  until  I 
had  written  a  private  letter  to  you." 

She  took  it  from  the  pocket  of  her  dress,  and 
offered  it  to  Thomas  Browning,  but  that  gentle- 
man waved  it  aside. 

She  continued :  "  You  indorsed  all  that  the  circu- 


LUKE   WALTON  105 

lar  contained.  You  said  that  within  a  year  you 
thought  the  shares  would  rise  to  at  least  ten  dol- 
lars. So  I  invested  all  the  money  I  had.  You 
know  what  followed.  In  six  months  the  shares 
went  down  to  nothing,  and  I  found  myself  penni- 
less." 

"  I  know  it,  my  good  woman,"  said  Thomas 
Browning.  "  I  know  it,  to  my  cost.  I  myself  had 
sixty  thousand  dollars  invested  in  the  stock.  I  lost 
it  all." 

"  But  you  seem  to  be  a  rich  man,"  said  the 
poor  woman,  looking  about  her. 

"  I  have  made  it  out  of  other  ventures.  But  the 
collapse  of  the  mine  was  a  sad  blow  to  me.  As 
the  president,  I  might  have  had  something  from  the 
wreck,  but  I  did  not.  I  suffered  with  the  rest. 
Now,  may  I  ask  what  I  can  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  It  was  on  account  of  your  advice  that  I  bought 
stock.  Don't  you  think  you  ought  to  make  up  to 
me  a  part  of  the  loss  ?  " 

"  Impossible !  "  said  Browning,  sharply.  "  Didn't 
I  tell  you  I  lost  much  more  heavily  than  you  ?  " 

"  Then  you  can  do  nothing  for  me?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  can  put  you  on  the  pension  list  of  the 
Widows'  and  Orphans'  Society.  That  will  entitle 
you  to  receive  a  dollar  a  week  for  three  months." 

"  I  am  not  an  object  of  charity,  sir.  I  wish  you 
good-night." 

"  Good-night.  If  you  change  your  mind  come 
to  me." 


io6  LUKE    WALTON 

"  Very  unreasonable,  upon  my  word,"  solilo- 
quized Thomas  Browning.  "  As  if  I  could  afford 
to  make  up  all  the  losses  of  stockholders.  It  would 
sweep  off  all  I  have." 

At  eleven  o'clock  Mr.  Browning  went  to  his  bed- 
chamber. He  lit  the  gas  and  was  preparing  to  dis- 
robe, when  his  sharp  ear  detected  the  sound  of  sup- 
pressed breathing,  and  the  point  from  which  it  pro- 
ceeded. He  walked  quickly  to  the  bed,  bent  over, 
and  looked  underneath.  In  an  instant  he  had 
caught  and  pulled  out,  not  over-gently,  a  man  who 
had  been  concealed  beneath  it. 

The  intruder  was  a  wretchedly  dressed  tramp. 
Browning  allowed  the  man  to  get  upon  his  feet, 
and  then,  facing  him,  demanded,  sternly :  "  Why 
are  you  here  ?  Did  you  come  to  rob  me  ?  " 


CHAPTER  XVII 

A    STRANGE    VISITOR 

"  Did  you  come  to  rob  me  ? "  repeated  Mr. 
Browning,  as  he  stood  facing  the  tramp,  whom  he 
had  brought  to  the  light  from  under  the  bed. 

There  was  a  strong  contrast  between  the  two 
men.  One  was  a  well-dressed,  prosperous-looking 
gentleman,  the  other  a  man  with  a  beard  of  a  week's 
growth,  disordered  hair,  and  soiled  garments. 

There  was  an  eager,  questioning  look  on  the  face 
of  the  tramp,  as  he  stared  at  the  gentleman  upon 
whose  privacy  he  had  intruded — not  a  look  of  fear, 
but  a  look  of  curiosity.  Thomas  Browning  mis- 
interpreted it.  He  thought  the  man  was  speechless 
from  alarm,  and  rather  enjoyed  the  thought  that  he 
had  struck  terror  into  the  soul  of  the  would-be 
burglar. 

"Have  you  nothing  to  say  for  yourself?"  de- 
manded Browning,  sternly. 

The  answer  considerably  surprised  him. 

"  Why,  pard,  it's  you,  is  it?  "  said  the  man,  with 
the  air  of  one  to  whom  a  mystery  was  made  plain. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  your  impertinence  ? " 
asked  the  respectable  Mr.  Browning,  angrily. 

107 


io8  LUKE    WALTON 

"  Well,  that's  a  good  one !  Who'd  have  thought 
that  this  'ere  mansion  belonged  to  my  old  friend 
and  pard  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?     Are  you  crazy,  .fellow  ?  " 

"  No,  I  ain't  crazy,  as  I  know  of,  but  I'm  flab- 
bergasted— that's  what  I  am." 

"  Have  done  with  this  trifling,  and  tell  me  why 
I  shouldn't  hand  you  over  to  the  police?  " 

"  I  guess  you  won't  do  that,  Tom  Butler!  "  re- 
turned the  burglar,  coolly. 

Browning  stared  in  surprise  and  dismay  at  hear- 
ing his  old  name  pronounced  by  this  unsavory 
specimen  of  humanity. 

"  Who  are  you?  "  he  demanded,  quickly. 

"  Don't  you  know  me  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't.  I  never  saw  you  before.  I  don't 
associate  with  men  of  your  class." 

"  Hear  him  now !  "  chuckled  the  tramp,  in  an 
amazed  tone.  "  Why,  Tom  Butler,  you  an'  me  used 
to  be  pards.  Don't  you  remember  Jack  King? 
Why,  we've  bunked  together,  and  hunted  for  gold 
together,  and  almost  starved  together;  but  that  was 
in  the  old  days." 

Browning  looked  the  amazement  he  felt. 

"Are  you  really  Jack  King?"  he  ejaculated, 
sinking  back  into  an  easy-chair,  and  staring  hard 
at  his  unexpected  visitor. 

"  I'm  the  same  old  coon,  Tom,  but  I'm  down  at 
the  heel,  while  you — do  you  really  own  this  fine 
house,  and  these  elegant  fixin's?" 


LUKE  WALTON  109 

"  Yes,"  answered  Browning,  mechanically. 

"  Well,  you've  fared  better  than  I.  I've  been 
goin'  down,  down,  till  I've  got  about  as  far  down  as 
I  can  get." 

"  And  you  have  become  a  burglar  ?  " 

"  Well,  a  man  must  live,  you  know." 

"  You  could  work." 

"  Who  would  give  such  a  lookin'  man  as  I  any 
work  ?  " 

"  How  did  you  get  in?  " 

"  That's  my  secret !  You  mustn't  expect  me  to 
give  myself  away." 

"  And  you  had  no  idea  whose  house  you  were 
in?" 

"  I  was  told  it  belonged  to  a  Mr.  Browning." 

"  I  am  Mr.  Browning — Thomas  Browning." 

"  You !     What  has  become  of  Butler?  " 

"  I  had  good  substantial  reasons  for  changing 
my  name — there  was  money  in  it,  you  under- 
stand." 

"I'd  like  to  change  my  own  name  on  them  terms. 
And  now,  Tom  Butler,  what  are  you  going  to  do 
for  me?" 

Mr.  Browning's  face  hardened.  He  felt  no  sym- 
pathy for  the  poor  wretch  with  whom  he  had  once 
been  on  terms  of  intimacy.  He  felt  ashamed  to 
think  that  they  had  ever  been  comrades,  and  he 
resented  the  tone  of  familiarity  with  which  this  out- 
cast addressed  him — a  reputable  citizen,  a  wealthy 
capitalist,  a  man  whose  name  had  been  more  than 


no  LUKE    WALTON 

once  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  mayor's 
office. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  I  ought  to  do,"  he  said, 
harshly. 

"Well?" 

"  I  ought  to  call  a  policeman,  and  give  you  in 
charge  for  entering  my  house  as  a  burglar." 

The  tramp  whistled,  and  eyed  him  keenly. 

"  You'd  better  not  do  that,"  he  said  without  be- 
traying alarm. 

"  Why  not  ?  Why  should  I  not  treat  you  like  any 
other  burglar  ?  " 

"  Because — but  I  want  to  ask  you  a  question," 
and  the  tramp,  unbidden,  sank  into  another  easy- 
chair  facing  that  of  the  owner  of  the  mansion. 

"  What  did  you  do'  with  that  money  Walton  gave 
you  on  his  deathbed  ?  " 

A  look  of  surprise  and  alarm  overspread  the 
countenance  of  Thomas  Browning,  a  look  which 
was  not  lost  upon  the  tramp,  who  drew  his  own  con- 
clusions therefrom. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  he  faltered. 

"  Just  what  I  say.  What  did  you  do  with  Wal- 
ton's money  ?  " 

"  I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand  your  meaning." 

"  No,  you  are  not.  However,  I  am  ready  to  ex- 
plain. On  his  deathbed  Walton  gave  you  ten 
thousand  dollars  to  carry  to  his  wife  and  family. 
Did  you  doit?" 

"Who  told  you  this?" 


LUKE   WALTON  ui 

"  It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  say.  It  is  enough 
that  I  know  it.  At  the  time  you  were  poor  enough. 
You  might  have  had  a  few  hundred  dollars  of  your 
own,  but  certainly  not  much  more.  Now — it  isn't 
so  many  years  ago — I  find  you  a  rich  man.  Of 
course,  I  have  my  own  ideas  of  how  this  came 
about." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  accuse  me  of  dishonesty?  "  de- 
manded Browning,  angrily. 

"  I  don't  accuse  you  of  anything.  I  am  only 
thinking  of  what  would  be  natural  under  the  cir- 
cumstances. I'm  not  an  angel  myself,  Tom  Butler, 
and  I  can't  say  but  the  money  might  have  miscar- 
ried if  it  had  been  handed  to  me  instead  of  to  you. 
I  wish  it  had;  I  wouldn't  be  the  miserable-looking 
wretch  I  am  now." 

"  Walton  handed  me  some  money,"  said  Brown- 
ing, cautiously — "  not  ten  thousand  dollars — and  I 
handed  it  to  his  family." 

"Where  did  they  live?" 

"  In  a  country  town,"  he  answered,  glibly. 

Jack  King  eyed  him  shrewdly.  He  was  a  man  of 
penetration,  and  he  understood  perfectly  that 
Browning  had  appropriated  the  money  for  his  own 
use. 

"  I  was  thinking  I  might  run  across  Mrs.  Wal- 
ton some  day,"  he  said,  significantly.  "  She  would 
be  glad  to  see  me,  as  I  knew  her  late  husband  in 
California." 

"  She  is  dead,"  said  Browning,  hastily. 


H2  LUKE    WALTON 

"  Dead !    How  long  since !  " 

"  She  died  soon  after  she  heard  of  her  husband's 
death.  Died  of  grief,  poor  woman !  " 

"  Were  there  no  children?  " 

"  Yes,  there  was  a  girl,  but  she  was  adopted  by 
a  relative  in  Massachusetts." 

"  I  don't  believe  a  word  of  it !  "  thought  Jack 
King.  "  He  wants  to  put  me  off  the  scent." 

"  Humph !     And  you  gave  the  wife  the  money  ?  " 

"  Of  course." 

"  I  may  meet  the  girl  some  time ;  I  might  adver- 
tise for  any  of  the  family." 

"  Do  you  think  they  would  be  glad  to  see  you?" 

"  They  might  help  me,  and  I  stand  in  need  of 
help." 

"  There  is  no  need  of  that.  You  are  an  old  com- 
rade in  distress.  I  haven't  forgotten  the  fact, 
though  I  pretended  to,  to  try  you.  Here's  a  five- 
dollar  bill.  I'll  let  you  out  of  the  house  myself. 
Considering  how  you  entered  it,  you  may  count 
yourself  lucky." 

"  That's  all  right,  as  far  as  it  goes,  Tom,  but  I 
want  to  remind  you  of  a  little  debt  you  owe  me. 
When  you  were  out  of  luck  at  Murphy's  diggings 
I  lent  you  twenty-five  dollars,  which  you  have  never 
paid  back." 

"  I  had  forgotten  it." 

"  I  haven't.  That  money  will  come  mighty  con- 
venient just  now.  It  will  buy  me  a  better-looking 
suit,  second-hand,  and  make  a  different  man  of  me. 


LUKE    WALTON  113 

With  it  I  can  get  a  place  and  set  up  for  a  respect- 
able human  being." 

"  Here's  the  money,"  said  Browning,  reluctantly 
drawing  the  additional  bills  from  his  wallet.  "  Now 
that  we  are  square,  I  hope  you  won't  annoy  me  by 
further  applications.  I  might  have  sent  you  out  of 
the  house  under  very  different  circumstances." 

"  You  were  always  considerate,  Tom,"  said  the 
tramp,  stowing  away  the  bills  in  the  pocket  of  his 
ragged  vest.  "  May  I  refer  to  you  if  I  apply  for  a 
situation  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  but  remember  I  am  Thomas  Browning. 
I  prefer  not  to  have  it  known  that  my  name  was 
ever  Butler." 

"  All  right !  Now,  if  you'll  do  me  the  favor  of 
showing  me  the  door — I  might  scare  a  servant — 
I'll  leave  you  to  your  slumbers." 

"  It's  very  awkward,  that  man's  turning  up,"  mut- 
tered Browning,  as  he  returned  from  letting  out 
his  unsavory  visitor.  "  How  could  he  have  heard 
about  Walton's  money  ?  " 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

HOW  JACK  KING  FARED 

Jack  King  left  the  house  with  the  money  Brown- 
ing had  unwillingly  given  him.  He  sought  a  cheap 
lodging,  and  the  next  morning  proceeded  to  make 
himself  respectable.  When  he  had  donned  some 
clean  linen,  a  suit  of  clothes  which  he  bought  cheap 
at  a  second-hand  store,  taken  a  bath,  and  called 
into  requisition  the  services  of  a  barber,  it  would 
have  been  hard  to  recognize  him  aS  the  same  man 
who  had  emerged  from  under  the  bed  of  the  well- 
known  philanthropist,  a  typical  tramp  and  would-be 
burglar. 

Jack  King  counted  over  the  balance  of  his  money, 
and  found  that  he  had  nine  dollars  and  thirty-seven 
cents  left. 

"  This  won't  support  me  forever,"  he  reflected. 
"  I  must  get  something  to  do." 

While  sauntering  along,  he  fell  in  with  an  old 
acquaintance  named  Stone. 

"  What  are  you  up  to,  King?  "  he  asked. 

"  Looking  for  a  job." 

"  You  are  my  man,  then.  I  am  keeping  a  cigar 
store  at  the  Prairie  Hotel,  but  I  have  some  business 

114 


LUKE   WALTON  115 

calling  me  away  from  the  city  for  six  weeks  or  two 
months.  Will  you  take  my  place  ?  " 

"  What  are  the  inducements  ?  " 

"  Board  and  lodging  and  five  dollars  a  week." 

"  Agreed." 

"  Come  over,  then,  and  I  will  show  you  the  place/' 

The  hotel  was  a  cheap  one,  not  far  from  the  rail- 
way station,  and  though  comfortable,  was  not  pat- 
ronized by  fastidious  travelers.  Jack  King  looked 
about  him  with  satisfaction.  To  one  who  had  been 
only  the  day  before  outside  the  pale  of  respect- 
ability, it  afforded  a  welcome  refuge  from  poverty 
and  privation. 

"  When  do  you  want  me  to  take  hold  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  To-morrow." 

"  All  right." 

"  Come  around  at  ten  o'clock.  I  want  to  leave 
Milwaukee  in  the  afternoon." 

"  There  is  great  virtue  in  a  respectable  suit  and 
appearance,"  thought  Jack  King.  "  If  Stone  had 
met  me  yesterday  he  would  have  steered  clear  of 
me.  Now  that  I  have  got  my  foot  on  the  ladder 
of  respectability  I  will  mount  higher,  if  I  can." 

King  could  not  help  reflecting  about  the  ex- 
traordinary prosperity  of  his  old  comrade,  Tom 
Butler,  now  Thomas  Browning,  Esq. 

"  What  does  it  mean  and  how  has  it  come 
about?"  he  asked  himself.  "He  seemed  very  un- 
easy when  I  asked  him  about  Walton's  money.  I 
believe  he  kept  it  himself.  I  wish  I  knew.  If  I 


n6  LUKE   WALTON 

could  prove  it,  it  would  be  a  gold  mine  for  me. 
I  must  make  inquiries,  and,  if,  possible,  find  out 
Walton's  family." 

"  Do  you  know  anything  of  Thomas  Browning?  " 
he  asked  Stone. 

"The  philanthropist?    Yes.    What  of  him?" 

"  I  called  on  him  last  evening." 

Jack  did  not  think  it  best  to  mention  the  circum- 
stances of  his  visit. 

"  Indeed !     How  did  you  know  him  ?  " 

"  In  California." 

"  I  suppose  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  fortune 
there." 

"  Is  he  so  rich,  then  ?  " 

"  Yes,  probably  worth  a  quarter  of  a  million." 

This  was  an  exaggeration,  but  rich  men's  wealth 
is  generally  overstated. 

"  How  does  he  stand  in  the  city  ?  " 

"  First-class.  He  has  been  mentioned  for  mayor. 
I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  he  might  get  the  office 
some  day." 

"  He  has  certainly  been  very  lucky,"  remarked 
King,  quietly. 
'"I  should  say  so.    Was  he  rich  in  California?" 

"  Not  when  I  knew  him.  At  one  time  there  he 
had  to  borrow  money  of  me.  He  paid  me  back  last 
evening." 

"  He  is  on  the  top  of  the  ladder  now,  at  any  rate." 

"  His  respectability  would  suffer  a  little,"  thought 
Jack  King,  "  if  I  could  prove  that  he  had  appropri- 


LUKE    WALTON  117 

ated  Walton's  money.  I  must  think  the  matter  over, 
and  secure  some  information  if  I  can." 

The  next  Sunday  evening  he  called  at  the  house 
of  the  philanthropist,  and  sent  in  his  name. 

Thomas  Browning  went  himself  to  the  door.  He 
was  afraid  King  might  be  wearing  the  same  dis- 
reputable suit  in  which  he  had  made  his  former 
visit.  But  to  his  relief  his  visitor  looked  quite  re- 
spectable. 

"  Do  you  wish  to  see  me  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes ;  but  only  for  a  social  call.  I  am  not  ac- 
quainted in  Milwaukee,  and  it  does  me  good  to  see 
an  old  friend  and  comrade." 

"  I  have  not  much  time  to  spare,  but  come 
in!" 

They  went  into  the  philanthropist's  library,  for- 
merly described. 

~'  Have  you  found  anything  to  do  ? "  asked 
Browning. 

"  Yes." 

"What  is  it?" 

King  answered  the  question. 

"  It  is  not  much,"  he  added,  "  but  will  do  for  the 
present." 

"  At  any  rate,  it  is  considerably  better  than  enter- 
ing a  house  at  night  and  hiding  under  the  bed," 
said  Browning,  dryly. 

"  So  it  is,"  answered  King,  smiling.  "  You  must 
make  allowance  for  my  destitute  condition.  I  little 
thought  that  I  was  in  the  house  of  an  old  friend. 


n8  LUKE   WALTON 

I  have  been  asking  about  you,  Tom  Butler — I  beg 
pardon,  Mr.  Browning — and  I  find  that  you  stand 
yery  high  in  Milwaukee." 

A  shade  of  annoyance  showed  kself  on  the  phil- 
anthropist's face  when  King  referred  to  him  under 
his  former  name,  but  when  his  high  standing  was 
referred  to  he  smiled  complacently. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  I  have  been  fortunate  enough 
to  win  the  good  opinion  of  my  fellow-citizens." 

"  Someone  told  me  that  you  would  probably  run 
for  mayor  some  day." 

"  It  may  be.  I  have  been  sounded  on  the  sub- 
ject." 

"  The  worst  of  running  for  office  is  that  if  a  man 
has  ever  done  anything  discreditable  it  is  sure  to 
be  brought  out  against  him." 

"  I  hope  you  don't  mean  to  imply  that  I  have  ever 
done  anything  discreditable,"  said  Browning, 
sharply. 

"  Oh,  dear,  no!  How  could  I  think  such  a  thing? 
But  sometimes  false  charges  are  brought.  If  you 
had  ever  betrayed  a  trust,  or  kept  money  belonging 
to  another,  of  course  it  would  hurt  you." 

"  Certainly  it  would,"  said  the  philanthropist,  his 
voice  betraying  some  nervousness,  "  but  I  am  glad 
to  say  that  my  conscience  is  clear  on  that  point. 
I  must  conciliate  this  fellow,  or  he  may  do  me 
some  harm,"  he  thought.  "  I  wonder  whether  he 
means  anything? 

"  By  the  way,  Jack,  let  me  send  for  a  bottle  of 


LUKE   WALTON  119 

wine,"  he  added,  aloud.  "  We'll  drink  to  the  mem- 
ory of  old  times." 

"  With  all  my  heart,  Tom.  I  see  you're  the  right 
sort.  When  you  are  nominated  for  office  I  will 
work  for  you." 

Browning  smiled  graciously  on  his  visitor,  and 
the  interview  closed  pleasantly. 

"  He's  afraid  of  me !  "  thought  Jack,  as  he  left 
the  house.  "  There's  something  in  that  Walton 
affair  that  he  wants  to  hush  up.  It  will  take  more 
tlian  a  glass  of  wine  to  buy  me  off." 


CHAPTER   XIX 

A    SENSATIONAL    INCIDENT 

When  Luke  brought  home  the  dress  pattern  his 
mother  was  much  pleased. 

"  I  have  needed  a  dress  for  a  good  while,"  she 
said,  "  but  I  never  felt  that  I  could  spare  the  money 
to  buy  even  a  common  one.  This  material  is  very 
nice." 

"  It  cost  seventy-five  cents  a  yard.  I  was  with 
Mrs.  Merton  when  she  bought  it." 

"  I  hope  you  didn't  hint  to  Mrs.  Merton  that  I 
needed  one." 

"  No,  that  isn't  like  me,  mother,  but  I  own  that  I 
was  very  glad  when  she  thought  of  it." 

"  Please  tell  her  how  grateful  I  am." 

"  I  will  certainly  do  so.  Now,  mother,  I  want  you 
to  have  it  made  up  at  once.  I  can  spare  the  money 
necessary." 

"  It  will  cost  very  little.  I  will  have  it  cut  by  a 
dressmaker  and  make  it  up  myself.  I  hope  you  will 
long  retain  the  friendship  of  Mrs.  Merton." 

"  It  won't  be  my  fault  if  I  don't.  But  I  can't  help 
seeing  that  her  niece,  Mrs.  Tracy,  and  Harold,  a 
boy  about  my  age,  look  upon  me  with  dislike." 


LUKE   WALTON  121 

"  Why  should  they  ?  I  don't  see  how  anyone  can 
dislike  you." 

"  You  are  my  mother  and  are  prejudiced  in  my 
favor.  But  I  am  sure  they  have  no  reason  to  dis- 
like me.  I  think,  however,  they  are  jealous,  and  fear 
the  old  lady  will  look  upon  me  with  too  much  favor. 
She  is  very  rich,  I  hear,  and  they  expect  to  inherit 
all  her  fortune." 

"  Money  makes  people  mean  and  unjust." 
"  If  I  can  only  get  hold  of  some,  I'll  run  the  risk 
of  that,"  said  Luke.  "  I  should  feel  a  good  deal 
more  comfortable  if  I  hadn't  two  enemies  in  the 
house.  I  am  afraid  they  will  try  to  set  the  old  lady 
against  me." 

"  Do  your  duty,  my  son,  and  leave  the  rest  to 
God.  It  isn't  well  to  borrow  trouble." 

"  No  doubt  you  are  right,  mother.  I  will  follow 
your  advice." 

The  next  morning  Luke  was  at  his  usual  stand 
near  the  Sherman  House  when  a  boy  who  was  pass- 
ing uttered  a  slight  exclamation  of  surprise.  Look- 
ing up,  Luke  recognized  Harold  Tracy. 

"  So  it's  you,  is  it?"  said  Harold,  not  over  po- 
litely. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Luke.    "  I  hope  you  are  well." 
"  I  didn't  know  you  were  a  newsboy." 
"  I  spend  a  part  of  my  time  in  selling  papers." 
"  Does  Mrs.  Merton  know  you  are  a  newsboy?  " 
"  I    think    I    have    told    h«r,    but    I    am    not 
certain." 


122  LUKE   WALTON 

"  It  must  be  inconvenient  for  you  to  come  so  far 
as  our  house  every  day  ?  " 

"  Of  course  it  takes  up  some  time,  but  Mrs.  Mer- 
ton  does  not  allow  me  to  work  for  nothing." 

"  How  much  does  Aunt  Eliza  pay  you  ? "  asked 
Harold,  his  face  showing  the  curiosity  he  felt. 

"  I  would  rather  you  would  ask  Mrs.  Merton.  I 
am  not  sure  that  she  would  care  to  have  me  tell." 

"  You  seem  to  forget  that  I  am  her  nephew — that 
is,  her  grandnephew.  It  is  hardly  likely  she  would 
keep  such  a  thing  secret  from  me." 

"  That  may  be,  but  I  would  rather  you  would 
ask  her." 

"  Does  she  pay  you  more  than  two  dollars  a 
week?" 

"  Again  I  must  refer  you  to  her." 

"  It  is  ridiculous  to  make  a  secret  of  such  a 
trifle,"  said  Harold,  annoyed. 

Luke  did  not  feel  bound  to  make  any  reply,  and 
Harold's  curiosity  manifested  itself  in  another  way. 

"How  much  do  you  make  selling  papers?"  he 
asked. 

"  I  averaged  about  seventy-five  cents  a  day  before 
I  began  to  work  for  Mrs.  Merton.  Now  I  don't 
make  as  much." 

"  Why  don't  you  black  boots,  too  ?  Many  of  the 
newsboys  do." 

"  I  never  cared  to  take  up  that  business." 

"If  you  should  go  into  it,  I  would  give  you  a  job 
now  and  then." 


LUKE   WALTON  123 

"  I  am  not  likely  to  go  into  that  business,  but  I 
shall  be  glad  to  sell  you  a  paper  whenever  you  need 
one." 

"  You  are  not  too  proud  to  black  boots,  are  you  ?  " 
persisted  Harold. 

"  I  don't  think  it  necessary  to  answer  that  ques- 
tion. I  have  always  got  along  without  it  so  far." 

Harold  carried  the  news  home  to  his  mother  that 
Luke  was  a  newsboy,  and  Mrs.  Tracy  found  an 
opportunity  to  mention  it  at  the  supper  table. 

"  Harold  saw  your  paragon  this  morning,  Aunt 
Eliza,"  she  commenced. 

"  Have  I  a  paragon  ?  I  really  wasn't  aware  of 
it,"  returned  the  old  lady. 

"  Your  errand  boy." 

"  Oh,  Luke.    Where  did  you  see  him,  Harold  ?  " 

"  He  was  selling  papers  near  the  Sherman 
House." 

"  I  hope  you  bought  one  of  him." 

"  I  didn't  have  any  change." 

"  Did  you  know  he  was  a  newsboy,  Aunt  Eliza  ?  " 
asked  Mrs.  Tracy. 

"  Yes ;  he  told  me  so.  You  speak  of  it  as  if  it 
were  something  to  his  discredit." 

"  It  is  a  low  business,  of  course." 

"  Why  is  it  a  low  business  ?  " 

"  Oh,  well,  of  course  it  is  only  poor  street  boys 
who  engage  in  it." 

"  I  am  aware  that  Luke  is  poor,  and  that  he  has 
to  contribute  to  the  support  of  his  mother  and 


i24  LUKE   WALTON 

brother.  I  hope,  if  you  were  poor,  that  Harold 
would  be  willing  to  work  for  you." 

"  I  wouldn't  sell  papers,"  put  in  Harold,  de- 
cidedly. 

"  I  don't  suppose  Luke  sells  papers  from  choice." 

"  Aunt  Eliza,  I  don't  see  why  you  should  so  per- 
sistently compare  Harold  with  that  ragged  errand 
boy  of  yours." 

"Is  he  ragged?  I  am  glad  you  noticed  it.  I  must 
help  him  to  a  new  suit." 

This  was  far  from  a  welcome  suggestion  to  Mrs. 
Tracy,  and  she  made  haste  to  add :  "  I  don't  think 
he's  ragged.  He  dresses  well  enough  for  his  posi- 
tion in  life." 

"  Still,  I  think  he  needs  some  new  clothes,  and  I 
thank  you  for  suggesting  it,  Louisa." 

"  What  a  provoking  woman  Aunt  Eliza  is !  "  said 
Mrs.  Tracy  to  herself.  "  Sometimes  I  wish  I  could 
slap  her,  she  is  so  contrary  and  perverse." 

The  next  day,  Luke,  to  his  surprise,  was  asked  to 
accompany  Mrs.  Merton  to  a  ready-made  clothing 
house  on  Clark  Street,  where  he  was  presented  with 
a  fine  suit,  costing  twenty  dollars. 

"  How  kind  you  are,  Mrs.  Merton !  "  said  Luke. 

"  I  didn't  notice  that  you  needed  a  new  suit,"  re- 
turned the  old  lady,  "  but  my  niece,  Mrs.  Tracy, 
spoke  of  it,  and  I  was  glad  to  take  the  hint." 

Luke  was  more  astonished  than  ever.  Was  it 
possible  that  Mrs.  Tracy,  who,  he  supposed,  disliked 
him,  should  so  have  interested  herself  in  his  behalf? 


LUKE    WALTON  125 

It  was  hard  to  believe.  There  was  a  smile  on  Mrs. 
Merton's  face  that  strengthened  his  incredulity,  and 
he  refrained  from  expressing  his  thanks  to  Mrs. 
Tracy  when  he  met  her. 

It  was  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  that  Luke, 
having  an  errand  that  carried  him  near  the  lake 
shore,  strolled  to  the  end  of  North  Pier.  He  was 
fond  of  the  water,  but  seldom  had  an  opportunity 
to  go  out  on  it. 

"  How  are  you,  Luke  ?  "  said  a  boy  in  a  flat-bot- 
tomed boat  a  few  rods  away. 

In  the  boy  who  hailed  him  Luke  recognized  John 
Hagan,  an  acquaintance  of  about  his  own  age. 

"  Won't  you  come  aboard  ?  "  asked  John. 

"  I  don't  mind,  if  you'll  come  near  enough." 

In  five  minutes  Luke  found  himself  on  board  the 
boat.  He  took  the  oars  and  relieved  John,  who  was 
disposed  to  rest. 

They  rowed  hither  and,  thither,  never  very  far 
from  the  pier.  Not  far  away  was  a  boat  of  the  same 
build,  occupied  by  a  man  of  middle  size,  whose 
eccentric  actions  attracted  their  attention.  Now  he 
would  take  the  oars  and  row  with  feverish  haste, 
nearly  fifty  strokes  to  a  minute;  then  he  would  let 
his  oars  trail,  and  seem  wrapped  in  thought.  Sud- 
denly the  boys  were  startled  to  see  him  spring  to 
his  feet  and,  flinging  up  his  arms,  leap  head  first  into 
the  lake. 


CHAPTER    XX 

AMBROSE    KEAN'S 'IMPRUDENCE 

Luke  and  his  companion  were  startled  by  the 
sudden  attempt  at  suicide,  and  for  an  instant  sat 
motionless  in  their  boat.  Luke  was  the  first  to  re- 
gain his  self-possession. 

"  Quick,  let  us  try  to  save  him,"  he  called  to  John 
Hagan. 

They  plunged  their  oars  into  the  water,  and  the 
boat  bounded  over  the  waves.  Fortunately  they 
were  but  half  a  dozen  rods  from  the  place  where 
the  would-be  suicide  was  now  struggling  to  keep 
himself  up.  For,  as  frequently  happens,  when  he 
actually  found  himself  in  the  water,  the  instinct 
of  self-preservation  impelled  the  would-be  self-de- 
stroyer to  attempt  to  save  himself.  He  could  swim 
a  very  little,  but  the  waters  of  the  lake  were  in  lively 
motion,  his  boat  had  floated  away,  and  he  would  in- 
evitably have  drowned  but  for  the  energetic  action 
of  Luke  and  John.  They  swept  their  boat  along- 
side, and  Luke  thrust  his  oar  in  the  direction  of 
the  struggling  man. 

"  Take  hold  of  it,"  he  said,  "  and  we  will  tow  you 
to  your  own  boat." 

Guided  and  sustained  by  the  oar,  the  man  gripped 
126 


LUKE   WALTON  127 

the  side  of  Luke's  boat,  leaving  the  oar  free.  His 
weight  nearly  overbalanced  the  craft,  but  with  con- 
siderable diflfcculty  the  boys  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  other  boat,  and,  though  considerably  exhausted, 
its  late  occupant  managed  to  get  in. 

As  he  took  his  place  in  the  boat  he  presented  a 
sorry  spectacle,  for  his  clothes  were  wet  through  and 
dripping. 

"  You  will  take  your  death  of  cold  unless  you  go 
on  shore  at  once,"  said  Luke. 

"  It  wouldn't  matter  much  if  I  did,"  said  the 
young  man,  gloomily. 

"  We  will  row  to  shore  also,"  said  Luke  to  John 
Hagan.  "  He  may  make  another  attempt  to  drown 
himself.  I  will  see  what  I  can  do  to  reason  him 
out  of  it." 

They  were  soon  at  the  pier,  and  the  three  landed. 

"  Where  do  you  live  ?  "  asked  Luke,  taking  his 
position  beside  the  young  man. 

The  latter  named  a  number  on  Vine  Street.  It 
was  at  a  considerable  distance,  and  time  was 
precious,  for  the  young  man  was  trembling  from 
the  effects  of  his  immersion. 

"  There  is  no  time  to  lose.  We  must  take  a  car- 
riage," said  Luke. 

He  summoned  one,  which  fortunately  had  just 
returned  from  the  pier,  to  which  it  had  conveyed  a 
passenger,  and  the  two  jumped  in.  The  young  man 
lay  back  in  his  seat,  and  remained  sad  and  silent. 

Luke  helped  him  up  te  his  room,  a  small  one  on 


128  LUKE    WALTON 

the  third  floor,  and  remained  until  he  had  changed 
his  clothes  and  was  reclining  on  the  bed. 

"  You  ought  to  have  some  hot  drink,"  he  said. 
*'  Can  any  be  got  in  the  house  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  Mrs.  Woods,  the  landlady,  will  have  some 
hot  water." 

Luke  went  downstairs  and  succeeded  in  enlisting 
the  sympathetic  assistance  of  the  kind-hearted 
woman  by  representing  that  her  lodger  had  been 
upset  in  the  lake  and  was  in  danger  of  a  severe  cold. 

When  the  patient  had  taken  down  a  cup  of  hot 
drink,  he  turned  to  Luke  and  said :  "  How  can  I 
thank  you  for  your  kindness  ?  " 

"  There  is  no  need  to  thank  me.  I  am  glad  I  was 
at  hand  when  you  needed  me." 

"  What  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  Luke  Walton." 

"  Mine  is  Ambrose  Kean.  You  must  think  I  am 
a  fool." 

"  I  think,"  said  Luke,  gently,  "  that  you  have 
some  cause  of  unhappiness." 

"  You  are  right  there.  I  have  been  unfortunate, 
but  I  am  also  an  offender  against  the  law,  and  it 
was  the  fear  of  exposure  and  arrest  that  made  me 
take  the  step  I  did.  I  thought  I  was  ready  to  die, 
but  when  I  found  myself  in  the  water  life  seemed 
dearer  than  it  had  before,  and  I  tried  to  escape. 
Thanks  to  you,  I  am  alive,  but  now  I  almost  wish 
that  I  had  succeeded.  I  don't  know  how  to  face 
what  is  before  me." 


LUKE    WALTON  129 

"Would  you  mind  telling  me  what  it  is?" 

"  No ;  I  need  someone  to  confide  in,  and  you  de- 
serve my  confidence.  Let  me  tell  you,  then,  that  I 
am  employed  in  an  office  on  Dearborn  Street.  My 
pay  is  small,  twelve  dollars  a  week,  but  it  would  be 
enough  to  support  me  if  I  had  only  myself  to  look 
out  for.  But  I  have  a  mother  in  Milwaukee,  and  I 
have  been  in  the  habit  of  sending  her  four  dollars  a 
week.  That  left  me  only  eight  dollars,  which  I 
found  it  hard  to  live  on,  and  there  was  nothing  left 
for  clothes." 

"  I  can  easily  believe  that,"  said  Luke. 

"  I  struggled  along,  however,  as  best  I  might,  but 
last  week  I  received  a  letter  from  my  mother  saying 
that  she  was  sick.  Of  course  her  expenses  were 
increased,  and  she  wrote  to  know  if  I  could  send 
her  a  little  extra  money.  I  have  been  living  so  close 
up  to  my  income  that  I  absolutely  had  less  than  a 
dollar  in  my  pocket.  Unfortunately,  temptation 
came  at  a  time  when  I  was  least  prepared  to  resist 
it.  One  of  our  customers  from  the  country  came 
in  when  I  was  alone,  and  paid  me  fifty  dollars  in 
bills,  for  which  I  gave  him  a  receipt.  No  one  saw 
the  payment  made.  It  flashed  upon  me  that  this 
sum  would  make  my  mother  comfortable  even  if 
her  sickness  lasted  a  considerable  time.  Without 
taking  time  to  think,  I  went  to  an  express  office,  and 
forwarded  to  her  a  package  containing  the  bills. 
It  started  yesterday,  and  by  this  time  is  in  my 
mother's  hands.  You  see  the  situation  I  am  placed 


130  LUKE    WALTON 

in.  The  one  who  paid  the  money  may  come  to  the 
office  at  any  time  and  reveal  my  guilt." 

"  I  don't  wonder  that  you  were  dispirited,"  re- 
turned Luke.  "  But  can  nothing  be  done  ?  Can 
you  not  replace  the  money  in  time  ?  " 

"  How  can  I  ?  I  have  told  you  how  small  my 
salary  is." 

"  Have  you  no  friend  or  friends  from  whom  you 
could  borrow  the  money  ?  " 

.  "  I  know  of  none.  I  have  few  friends,  and  such 
as  they  are,  are,  like  myself,  dependent .  on  small 
pay.  I  must  tell  you,  by  the  way,  how  we  became 
so  poor.  My  mother  had  a  few  thousand  dollars, 
which,  added  to  my  earnings,  would  have  made  us 
comparatively  independent,  but  in  an  evil  hour  she 
invested  them  in  a  California  mine,  on  the  strength 
of  the  indorsement  of  a  well-known  financier  of 
Milwaukee,  Mr.  Thomas  Browning " 

"  Who  ?  "  asked  Luke,  in  surprise. 

"Thomas  Browning.     Do  you  know  him?" 

"  I  have  seen  him.  He  sometimes  comes  to  Chi- 
cago, and  stops  at  the  Sherman  House." 

"  He  recommended  the  stock  so  highly — in  fact, 
he  was  the  president  of  the  company  that  put  it  on 
the  market — that  my  poor  mother  thought  it  all 
right,  and  invested  all  she  had.  The  stock  was  two 
dollars  a  share.  Now  it  would  not  fetch  two 
cents.  This  it  was  that  reduced  us  to  such  extreme 
poverty." 

"  Do  you  think  Mr.  Browning  was  honest  in  his 


LUKE   WALTON  131 

recommendation  of  the  mine  ? "  asked  Luke, 
thoughtfully. 

"  I  don't  know.  He  claimed  to  be  the  principal 
loser  himself.  But  it  is  rather  remarkable  that  he 
is  living  like  a  rich  man  now.  Hundreds  lost  their 
money  through  this  mine.  As  Mr.  Browning  had 
himself  been  in  California " 

"  What  is  that  ? "  asked  Luke,  in  excitement. 
"You  say  this  Browning  was  once  in  California? 
Can  you  tell  when  ?  " 

"  Half  a  dozen  years  ago,  more  or  less." 

"  And  he  looks  like  the  man  to  whom  my  poor 
father  confided  ten  thousand  dollars  for  us,"  thought 
Luke.  "  It  is  very  strange.  Everything  tallies  but 
the  name.  The  wretch  who  swindled  us  was  named 
Butler." 

"  Why  do  you  ask  when  Mr.  Browning  was  in 
California  ?  "  asked  the  young  man. 

"  Because  my  father  died  in  California,"  answered 
Luke,  evasively,  "  and  I  thought  it  possible  that  Mr. 
Browning  might  have  met  him." 


CHAPTER    XXI 

A    FRIEND    IN    NEED 

"  Mr.  Browning  is  a  man  of  very  peculiar  appear- 
ance," said  Kean. 

"  You  refer  to  the  wart  on  the  upper  part  of  his 
right  cheek  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  gives  him  a  repulsive  look." 

"And  yet  he  is  popular  in  Milwaukee?" 

"  Yes,  among  those  who  were  not  swindled  by 
his  mining  scheme.  He  has  the  reputation  of  a 
philanthropist,  but  I  think  it  is  more  on  account  of 
what  he  says  than  what  he  does.  He  has  done  more 
harm  than  he  can  ever  repair.  For  instance,"  added 
the  young  man,  bitterly,  "  this  crime  which  I  have 
committed — I  will  call  it  by  its  right  name — I  was 
impelled  to  do  by  my  mother's  poverty,  brought  on 
by  him." 

"  How  does  it  happen  that  you  are  not  at  the 
office  to-day  ?  " 

"  I  felt  sick — sick  at  heart,  rather  than  sick  in 
body,  and  I  sent  word  to  my  employer  that  I  could 
not  be  there.  I  dread  entering  the  office,  for  at  any 
time  exposure  may  come." 

"  If  you  could  only  raise  the  fifty  dollars,  you 
132 


LUKE   WALTON  133 

could  replace  the  money  before  it  was  inquired 
for." 

Ambrose  Kean  shook  his  head. 

"  I  can't  possibly  raise  it,"  he  said,  despondently. 

"  I  would  let  you  have  it  if  I  possessed  as  much 
money,  but,  as  you  may  suppose,  I  am  poor." 

"  I  am  no  less  grateful  to  you,  Luke.  You  have 
a  good  heart,  I  am  sure.  You  don't  despise  me  ?  " 

"No,  why  should  I?" 

"  I  have  been  guilty  of  a  crime." 

"  But  you  are  sorry  for  it.  Is  there  positively  no 
one  with  whom  you  are  acquainted  who  is  rich 
enough  to  help  you  ?  " 

"  There  is  one  lady  in  Chicago — a  rich  lady — who 
was  a  schoolmate  of  my  mother.  She  was  older 
and  in  better  circumstances,  but  they  were  good 
friends." 

"Who  is  this  lady?" 

"  A  Mrs.  Merton." 

"  Airs.  Merton !  "  exclaimed  Luke,  in  excitement. 
"Of  Prairie  Avenue?" 

"  Yes ;  I  believe-she  lives  there." 

"  Why,  I  know  her — I  am  in  her  employ,"  said 
Luke. 

Ambrose  Kean  stared  at  Luke  in  undisguised 
amazement. 

"  Is  this  true?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes." 

"  Is  she  a  kind  lady?  Do  you  think  she  would 
help  me  in  this  trouble  of  mine  ?  " 


134  LUKE   WALTON 

"  She  is  very  kind-hearted,  as  I  know  from  my 
own  experience.  I  will  go  to  her  at  once,  and  see 
what  I  can  do." 

Ambrose  Kean  grasped  Luke's  hand  with  fervor. 

"  You  are  a  friend  sent  from  heaven,  I  truly  be- 
lieve," he  said.  "  You  have  given  me  a  hope  of 
retrieving  myself." 

"  I  will  leave  you  for  a  time,"  said  Luke.  "  There 
is  no  time  to  be  lost." 

"  I  shall  be  full  of  anxiety  till  I  see  you  again." 

"  Be  hopeful.  I  think  I  shall  bring  you  good 
news." 

When  Luke  reached  the  house  on  Prairie  Avenue 
he  was  about  to  ring  the  bell  when  Harold  Tracy 
opened  the  door. 

"  You  here  again !  "  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  dis- 
pleasure. "Weren't  you  here  this  morning?" 

"Yes." 

"  Did  Aunt  Eliza  ask  you  to  come  this  after- 
noon ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Then  what  brings  you  ?  " 

"  Business,"  answered  Luke,  curtly,  and  he  quietly 
entered  the  hall,  and  said  to  a  servant  who  was 
passing  through,  "  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  ask 
Mrs.  Merton  if  she  will  see  me?" 

"  Well,  you're  cheeky !  "  ejaculated  Harold,  who 
had  intended  to  keep  him  out. 

"  As  long  as  Mrs.  Merton  doesn't  think  so,  I  shall 
not  trouble  myself,"  said  Luke,  coldly. 


LUKE   WALTON  135 

"  Sooner  or  later  Aunt  Eliza  will  see  you  in  your 
true  colors,"  said  Harold,  provoked. 

"  I  think  she  does  now." 

At  this  moment  the  servant  returned. 

"  You  are  to  go  upstairs,"  she  said.  "  Mrs.  Mer- 
ton  will  see  you." 

The  old  lady  was  sitting  back  in  an  easy-chair 
when  Luke  entered.  She  smiled  pleasantly. 

"  This  is  an  unexpected  pleasure,"  she  said — 
"  this  afternoon  call." 

"  I  will  tell  you  at  once  what  brought  me,  Mrs. 
Merton." 

"  It  isn't  sickness  at  home,  I  hope?  " 

"  No,  I  came  for  a  comparative  stranger." 

Then  Luke  told  the  story  of  Ambrose  Kean,  his 
sudden  yielding  to  temptation,  his  repentance  and 
remorse. 

"  I  am  interested  in  your  friend,"  said  Mrs.  Mer- 
ton. "  You  say  he  appropriated  fifty  dollars  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  it  was  to  help  his  mother." 

"  True,  but  it  was  a  dangerous  step  to  take.  It 
won't  be  considered  a  valid  excuse." 

"  He  realizes  all  that.  His  employer  is  a  just  but 
strict  man,  and  if  the  theft  is  discovered  Kean  will 
be  arrested,  and,  of  course,  convicted." 

"  And  you  think  I  will  help  him  ?  Is  that  why 
you  have  come  to  me  with  this  story?  " 

"  I  don't  think  I  would  have  done  so  if  he  had 
not  mentioned  you  as  an  old  friend  and  schoolmate 
of  his  mother." 


136  LUKE   WALTON 

''What's  that?"  added  Mrs.  Merton,  quickly. 
"  His  mother  an  old  schoolmate  of  mine  ?  " 

"  That  is  what  he  says." 

"  What  was  her  name — before  marriage  ?  " 

"  Mary  Robinson." 

"  You  don't  say  so !  "  Mrs.  Merton  exclaimed 
with  vivacity.  "  Why,  Mary  was  my  favorite  at 
school.  And  this  young  man  is  her  son? 

"  I  would  have  helped  him  without  knowing  this, 
but  now  I  won't  hesitate  a  moment.  Mary's  boy! 
You  must  bring  him  here.  I  want  to  question  him 
about  her." 

"  I  can  tell  you  something  about  her.  She  lost 
her  money  by  investing  in  a  California  mine — I 
think  it  was  the  Excelsior  Mine." 

"She,  too?" 

Lr.ke  looked  surprised.  He  did  not  understand 
the  meaning  of  this  exclamation. 

"  I  have  a  thousand  shares  of  that  worthless  stock 
myself,"  continued  the  old  lady.  "  It  cost  me  two 
thousand  dollars,  and  now  it  is  worth  nothing." 

'  The  one  who  introduced  the  stock  was  a  Mr. 
Browning,  of  Milwaukee." 

"  I -know.  He  was  an  unscrupulous  knave,  I  have 
no  doubt.  I  could  afford  the  loss,  but  hundreds  in- 
vested, like  poor  Mary,  who  were  ruined.  Is  the 
man  living,  do  you  know  ?  " 

"  Yes,  he  is  living  in  Milwaukee.  He  is  rich, 
and  is  prominently  spoken  of  as  a  candidate  for 
mayor." 


LUKE    WALTON  137 

"  If  he  is  ever  a  candidate  I  will  take  care  that 
his  connection  with  this  swindling  transaction  is 
made  known.  A  man  who  builds  up  a  fortune  on 
the  losses  of  the  poor  is  a  contemptible  wretch,  in 
my  opinion." 

"  And  mine,  too,"  said  Luke.  "  It  is  very  strange 
that  he  answers  the  description  of  a  man  who 
cheated  our  family  out  of  ten  thousand  dollars." 

"  Indeed !    How  was  that  ?  " 

Luke  told  the  story,  and  Mrs.  Merton  listened 
with  great  interest. 

"  So  all  corresponds  except  the  name  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  He  may  have  changed  his  name." 

"  I  have  thought  of  that.  I  mean  to  find  out 
some  time." 

"  I  won't  keep  you  any  longer.  Your  friend  is, 
no  doubt,  in  great  anxiety.  I  have  the  money  here 
in  bills.  I  will  give  them  to  you  for  him." 

Mrs.  Merton  was  in  the  act  of  handing  a  roll  of 
bills  to  Luke  when  the  door  opened  suddenly,  and 
Mrs.  Tracy  entered. 

She  frowned  in  surprise  and  displeasure  when 
she  saw  her  aunt  giving  money  to  "  that  boy,"  as  she 
contemptuously  called  him. 


CHAPTER   XXII 

HOW    AMBROSE    KEAN    WAS    SAVED 

"  I  didn't  know  you  were  occupied,  Aunt  Eliza,'* 
said  Mrs.  Tracy,  in  a  significant  tone,  as  she  paused 
at  the  door. 

"  My  business  is  not  private,"  returned  the  old 
lady.  "  Come  in,  Louisa." 

Mrs.  Tracy  did  come  in,  but  she  regarded  Luke 
with  a  hostile  and  suspicious  glance. 

"  That  is  all,  Luke,"  said  his  patroness.  "  You 
may  go.  You  can  report  to  me  to-morrow." 

"All  right,  ma'am." 

When  Luke  had  left  the  room,  Mrs.  Tracy  said : 
"  You  appear  to  repose  a  great  deal  of  confidence 
in  that  boy." 

"  Yes ;  I  think  he  deserves  it." 

Mrs.  Tracy  coughed. 

"  You  seem  to  trust  him  with  a  great  deal  of 
money." 

"  Yes/' 

"  Of  course,  I  don't  want  to  interfere,  but  I  think 
you  will  need  to  be  on  your  guard.  He  is  evidently 
bent  on  getting  all  he  can  out  of  you." 

"That  is  your  judgment,  is  it,  Louisa?" 
138 


LUKE    WALTON  139 

"  Yes,  Aunt  Eliza,  since  you  ask  me." 

"  He  has  done  me  a  service  this  morning.  He  has 
brought  to  my  notice  a  son  of  one  of  my  old  school- 
mates who  is  in  a  strait,  and  I  have  sent  him  fifty 
dollars." 

"By  that  boy?" 

"Yes.     Why  not?" 

"  Are  you  sure  the  person  to  whom  you  sent  the 
money  will  ever  get  it  ?  " 

"  Please  speak  out  what  you  mean.  Don't  hint. 
I  hate  hints." 

"  In  plain  terms,  then,  I  think  the  boy  will  keep 
the  money  himself,  or,  at  any  rate,  a  part  of  it." 

"  I  don't  fear  it." 

"  No  fool  like  an  old  fool !  "  thought  Mrs.  Tracy, 
but  she  was  too  prudent  to  say  it.  She  only 
coughed. 

"  You  appear  to  have  a  bad  cough,  Louisa.  Let 
me  recommend  you  to  take  some  of  my  cough 
medicine,"  said  the  old  lady,  with  an  amused  look. 

"  Thank  you,  Aunt  Eliza.    I  don't  need  it." 

"  Have  you  any  more  to  say  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  except  to  warn  you  against  that  de- 
signing boy." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Louisa,  but  I  am  not  quite 
a  simpleton.  I  have  seen  something  of  the  world, 
and  I  don't  think  I  am  easily  taken  in.  Now  I 
propose  to  lie  down  for  an  hour.  Afterwards  I 
shall  be  glad  to  see  you,  if  you  wish  an  interview." 

Mrs.  Tracy  left  the  room,  not  very  well  satisfied. 


140  LUKE   WALTON 

She  really  thought  Luke  had  designs  upon  the  old 
lady's  money,  and  was  averse  even  to  his  receiving 
a  legacy,  since  it  would  take  so  much  from  Harold 
and  herself. 

"  Harold,  when  I  entered  your  aunt's  room,  what 
do  you  think  I  saw  ?  " 

This  she  said  to  Harold,  who  was  waiting  below. 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  Aunt  Eliza  was  giving  money  to  that  boy." 

"  Do  you  know  how  much  ?  " 

"  Fifty  dollars." 

"  Whew !    Was  it  for  himself?  " 

"  He  came  to  her  with  a  trumped-up  story  of  an 
old  schoolmate  of  aunt's  who  was  in  need  of 
money." 

"  Do  you  think  he  will  keep  it  himself  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  so." 

"  What  a  cheeky  young  rascal  he  is,  to  be  sure ! 
I  have  no  doubt  you  are  right." 

"  Yes ;  there  is  too  much  reason  to  think  he  is  an 
unscrupulous  adventurer,  young  as  he  is." 

"  Why  don't  you  tell  aunt  so?  " 

"I  have." 

"And  what  does  she  say?" 

"  It  doesn't  make  the  least  impression  upon  her." 

"  What  do  you  think  the  boy  will  do?  " 

"  Get  her  to  make  a  will  in  his  favor,  or  at  least 
to  leave  him  a  large  legacy." 

Harold  turned  pale. 

"That  would  be  robbing  us,"  he  said. 


LUKE    WALTON  141 

"Of  course  it  would.  He  wouldn't  mind  that, 
you  know." 

"  He  was  very  impertinent  to  me  this  morning." 

"  I  presume  so.  He  depends  upon  his  favor  with 
aunt." 

"  Isn't  there  anything  we  can  do,  mother  ?  " 

"  I  must  consider." 

Meanwhile  Luke  returned  at  once  to  the  room 
of  Ambrose  Kean.  He  found  the  young  man  await- 
ing him  with  great  anxiety. 

"  What  success  ?  "  he  asked,  quickly. 

"  I  have  got  the  fifty  dollars,"  answered  Luke. 

"  Thank  God !  I  am  saved !  "  ejaculated  the 
young  man. 

"  Would  you  mind  taking  it  round  to  the  office 
with  a  note  from  me  ?  "  asked  Kean. 

"  I  will  do  so  cheerfully." 

"  Then  I  shall  feel  at  ease." 

"  Mrs.  Merton  would  like  to  have  you  call  on  her. 
She  remembered  your  mother  at  once." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  do  so,  but  shall  be  ashamed 
to  meet  her  now  that  she  knows  of  my  yielding  to 
temptation." 

"  You  need  not  mind  that.  She  also  suffered 
from  the  rascality  of  Thomas  Browning,  and  she 
will  make  allowances  for  you." 

"  Then  I  will  go  some  day  with  you." 

"  You  had  better  give  me  a  letter  to  take  to  your 
•mployer  with  the  money." 

"  I  will." 


142  LUKE    WALTON 

Ambrose  Kean  wrote  the  following  note: 

"JAMES  COOPER: 

"  DEAR  SIR  :  Hiram  Crossley  called  at  the  office 
yesterday  and  paid  in  fifty  dollars  due  to  you.  Be- 
ing busy,  I  thrust  it  into  my  pocket,  and  inad- 
vertently took  it  with  me.  I  think  I  shall  be  able 
to  be  at  the  office  to-morrow,  but  think  it  best  to 
send  the  money  by  a  young  friend.  I  gave  Mr. 
Crossley  a  receipt.  Yours  respectfully, 

"  AMBROSE  KEAN/' 
( 

When  Luke  reached  the  office,  Mr.  Cooper  was 
conversing  with  a  stout,  broad-shouldered  man,  of 
middle  age,  and  Luke  could  not  help  hearing  some 
of  their  conversation. 

"  You  say  you  paid  fifty  dollars  to  my  clerk,  Mr. 
Crossley  ?  "  said  the  merchant. 

"  Yes." 

"  Have  you  his  receipt  ?  " 

"  Here  it  is." 

Mr.  Cooper  examined  it. 

"  Yes,  that  is  his  signature." 

"  Isn't  he  here  to-day  ?  " 

"  No ;  he  sent  word  that  he  had  a  headache." 

"  And  you  don't  find  the  money  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  That  is  singular."  And  the  two  men  exchanged 
glances  of  suspicion. 

"  What  sort  of  a  young  man  is  he  ?  " 


LUKE   WALTON  143 

"  I  never  had  any  cause  to  suspect  him." 

"  I  hope  it  is  all  right." 

"  If  it  isn't,  I  will  discharge  him,"  said  Cooper, 
nodding  emphatically. 

"  He  probably  didn't  think  I  would  be  here  so 
soon.  I  didn't  expect  to  be,  but  a  telegram  sum- 
moned me  to  the  city  on  other  business." 

Of  course  Luke  understood  that  the  conversation 
related  to  Kean,  and  that  he  had  arrived  none  too 
spon.  He  came  forward. 

"  I  have  a  letter  for  you  from  Mr.  Kean,"  he  said. 

"  Ha !    Give  it  to  me !  " 

Mr.  Cooper  tore  open  the  envelope,  saw  the  bank 
bills,  and  read  the  letter. 

"  It's  all  right,  Mr.  Crossley,"  he  said,  his  brow 
clearing.  "  Read  that  letter." 

"  I  am  really  glad,"  said  Crossley. 

"  How  is  Mr.  Kean  ?  "  asked  Cooper,  in  a  friendly 
tone. 

"  He  had  a  severe  headache,  but  he  is  better,  and 
hopes  to  be  at  the  office  to-morrow." 

"  Tell  him  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  him,  but  don't 
want  him  to  come  unless  he  is  really  able." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  I  will  do  so."  And  Luke  left 
the  office. 

"  It  was  a  narrow  escape,"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  Whenever  I  am  tempted  to  be  dishonest  I  will 
remember  it." 

He  went  back  to  Ambrose  Kean,  and  told  him 
what  had  happened  at  the  office. 


144  LUKE   WALTON 

"  I  have  escaped  better  than  I  deserved,"  he  said. 
"  It  will  be  a  lesson  to  me.  Please  tell  Mrs.  Mer- 
ton  that  her  timely  aid  has  saved  my  reputation  and 
rescued  my  poor  mother  from  sorrow  and  destitu- 
tion." 

"  I  will,  and  I  am  sure  she  will  consider  the  money 
well  spent." 

The  next  morning,  as  Luke  stood  at  his  usual 
post,  he  saw  Thomas  Browning,  of  Milwaukee, 
come  out  of  the  Sherman  House.  He  knew  him 
at  once  by  the  wart  on  the  upper  part  of  his  right 
cheek,  which  gave  him  a  remarkable  appearance. 

"  Can  there  be  two  persons  answering  this  de- 
scription ?  "  Luke  asked  himself. 

Thomas  Browning  came  across  the  street,  and 
paused  in  front  of  Luke, 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

STEPHEN    WEBB    IS    PUZZLED 

"  Will  you  have  a  morning  paper  ?  "  asked  Luke. 

He  wanted  to  have  a  few  words  with  Mr.  Brown- 
ing, even  upon  an  indifferent  subject,  as  he  now 
thought  it  probable  that  this  was  the  man  who  had 
defrauded  his  mother  and  himself. 

Browning,  too,  on  his  part,  wished  for  an  oppor- 
tunity to  speak  with  the  son  of  the  man  he  had  so 
shamefully  swindled.  Though  he  had  no  reason  to 
think  that  Luke  or  his  mother  had  any  knowledge 
of  the  trust,  he  felt  a  vague  sense  of  uneasiness  lest 
it  should  some  day  come  out,  and  he  be  forced  to 
disgorge  the  money  with  accumulated  interest. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  abruptly,  "  you  may  give  me  the 
Times." 

When  the  paper  had  been  paid  for,  he  said : 

"  Do  you  make  a  good  living  at  selling  papers?  " 

"  It  gives  me  about  seventy-five  cents  a  day," 
answered  Luke. 

"  You  can  live  on  that,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  I  have  a  mother  to  support." 

"  That  makes  a  difference.  W'hy  do  you  stay  in 
Chicago?  You  could  make  a  better  living  farther 
West." 

US 


146  LUKE   WALTON 

"  In  California?  "  asked  Luke,  looking  intently  at 
Browning. 

Thomas  Browning  started. 

"  What  put  California  into  your  head  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  My  father  died  in  California." 

"  A  good  reason  for  your  not  going  there." 

"  I  thought  you  might  be  able  to  tell  me  some- 
thing about  California,"  continued  Luke. 

"  Why  should  I  ?  " 

"  I  thought  perhaps  you  had  been  there." 

"  You  are  right,"  said  Browning,  after  a  pause. 
"  I  made  a  brief  trip  to  San  Francisco  at  one  time. 
It  was  on  a  slight  matter  of  business.  But  I  don't 
know  much  about  the  interior  and  can't  give  you 
advice." 

"  I  wonder  if  this  is  true,"  thought  Luke.  "  He 
admits  having  been  to  California,  but  says  he  has 
never  been  in  the  interior.  If  that  is  the  case,  he 
can't  have  met  my  father." 

"  I  may  at  some  time  have  it  in  my  power  to  find 
you  a  place  farther  West,  but  not  in  California," 
resumed  Browning.  "  I  will  take  it  into  consider- 
ation. I  frequently  come  to  Chicago,  and  I  presume 
you  are  to  be  found  here." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

Thomas  Browning  waved  his  hand  by  way  of 
good-by,  and  continued  on  his  way. 

"  The  boy  seems  sharp,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  If 
he  had  the  slightest  hint  of  my  connection  with  his 
father's  monev,  he  looks  as  if  he  would  follow  it 


LUKE -WALTON  147 

up.  Luckily  there  is  no  witness  and  no  evidence. 
No  one  can  prove  that  I  received  the  money." 

At  the  corner  of  Adams  Street  Mr.  Browning 
encountered  his  nephew,  Stephen  Webb,  who  was 
gazing  in  at  a  window  with  a  cigar  in  his  mouth, 
looking  the  very  image  of  independent  leisure. 

"  You  are  profitably  employed,"  said  Browning, 
dryly. 

Stephen   Webb   wheeled   round   quickly. 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  Uncle  Thomas,"  he  said,  effu- 
sively. "  I  suppose  you  received  my  letter  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  I  hope  you  are  satisfied.  I  had  hard  work  to 
find  out  about  the  boy." 

"  Humph !  I  don't  see  how  there  could  be  any- 
thing difficult  about  it.  I  hope  you  didn't  mention 
my  name  ?  " 

"  No.  I  suppose  you  are  interested  in  the  boy," 
said  Stephen,  with  a  look  of  curious  inquiry. 

"  Yes ;  I  always  feel  interested  in  the  poor,  and 
those  who  require  assistance." 

Browning's  tone  was  that  of  the  professional  phil- 
anthropist. 

"  I  am  glad  of  that,  uncle,  for  you  have  a  poor 
nephew." 

"  And  a  lazy  one,"  said  Browning,  sharply. 
"  Where  would  I  be  if  I  had  been  as  indolent  as 
you?" 

"  I  am  sure  I  am  willing  to  do  whatever  you  re- 
quire, Uncle  Thomas.  Have  you  any  instructions  ?  " 


148  LUKE    WALTON 

"  Well,  not  just  now,  except  to  let  me  know  all 
you  can  learn  about  the  newsboy.  Has  he  any  other 
source  of  income  except  selling  papers  ?  " 

"  I  believe  he  does  a  few  odd  jobs  now  and  then, 
but  I  don't  suppose  he  earns  much  outside." 

"  I  was  talking  with  him  this  morning." 

"You  were!"  ejaculated  Stephen  in  a  tone  of 
curiosity.  "  Did  you  tell  him  you  felt  an  interest 
in  him?" 

"  No,  and  I  don't  want  you  to  tell  him  so.  I  sug- 
gested that  he  could  make  a  better  income  by  leav- 
ing Chicago,  and  going  farther  West." 

"  I  think  I  might  like  to  do  that,  Uncle  Thomas." 

"  Then  why  don't  you  ?  " 

"  I  can't  go  without  money." 

"  You  could  take  up  a  quarter-section  of  land,  and 
start  in  as  a  farmer.  I  could  give  you  a  lift  that 
way  if  I  thought  you  were  in  earnest." 

"  I  don't  think  I  should  succeed  as  a  farmer," 
said  Stephen,  with  a  grimace. 

"  Too  hard  work,  eh?" 

"  I  am  willing  to  work  hard,  but  that  isn't  in  my 
line." 

"  Well,  let  that  go.  You  asked  if  I  had  any  in- 
structions. Find  opportunities  of  talking  with  the 
boy,  and  speak  in  favor  of  going  West." 

"  I  will.     Is  there  anything  more  ?  " 

"  No,  I  believe  not." 

"  You  couldn't  let  me  have  a  couple  of  dollars 
extra,  could  you,  uncle  ?  " 


LUKE    WALTON  149 

"  Why  should  I  ?  " 

"  I — I  felt  sick  last  week,  and  had  to  call  in  a 
doctor,  and  then  get  some  medicine." 

"  There's  one  dollar !  Don't  ask  me  for  any  more 
extras." 

"  He's  awfully  close-fisted,"  grumbled  Stephen. 
"  I  am  glad  he  didn't  ask  me  the  doctor's  name,  or 
what  my  sickness  was.  It  might  have  bothered  me 
a  little  to  tell." 

"  I  am  afraid  King1  might  visit  Chicago,  and  find 
out  the  boy,"  said  Browning  t0  himself  as  he  con- 
tinued his  walk.  "  That  would  never  do,  for  he  is 
a  sharp  fellow,  and  would  put  the  boy  on  my  track 
if  he  saw  any  money  in  it.  My  best  course  is  to  get 
this  Luke  out  of  Chicago,  if  I  can." 

Stephen  Webb  made  it  in  his  way  to  fall  in  with 
Luke  when  he  was  selling  afternoon  papers. 

"  This  is  rather  a  slow  way  of  making  a  fortune, 
isn't  it,  Luke  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes ;  I  have  no  thoughts  of  making  a  fortune  at 
the  newspaper  business." 

"  Do  you  always  expect  to  remain  in  it  ?  "  con- 
tinued Webb. 

"  Well,  no,"  answered  Luke,  with  a  smile.  "  If 
I  live  to  be  fifty  or  sixty  I  think  I  should  find  it 
rather  tiresome." 

"  You  are  right  there." 

"  But  I  don't  see  any  way  of  getting  out  of  it  just 
yet.  There  may  be  an  opening  for  me  by  and  by." 

"  The  chances  for  a  young  fellow  in  Chicago  are 


i5o  LUKE    WALTON 

not  very  good.  Here  am  I — twenty-five  years  old 
— and  with  no  prospects  to  speak  of." 

"  A  good  many  people  seem  to  make  good  livings, 
and  many  grow  rich,  in  Chicago." 

"  Yes,  if  you've  got  money  you  can  make  money. 
Did  you  ever  think  of  going  West  ?  " 

Luke  looked  a  little  surprised. 

"  A  gentleman  was  speaking  to  me  on  that  sub- 
ject this  morning,"  he  said. 

"  What  did  he  say  to  you  ?  "  asked  Stephen,  curi- 
ously. 

"  He  recommended  me  to  go  West,  but  did  not 
seem  to  approve  of  California." 

"  Why  not?    Had  he  ever  been  there?  " 

"  He  said  he  had  visited  San  Francisco,  but  had 
never  been  in  the  interior." 

"  What  a  whopper  that  was !  "  thought  Stephen 
Webb.  "  Why  should  Uncle  Thomas  say  that?  " 

"  What  sort  of  a  looking  man  was  he?  Had  you 
ever  seen  him  before?"  he  inquired. 

"  He  is  a  peculiar-looking  man — has  a  wart  on  his 
right  cheek." 

"  Did  he  mention  the  particular  part  of  the 
West?" 

"  No ;  he  said  he  would  look  out  for  a  chance  for 
me." 

"  It  is  curious  Uncle  Thomas  feels  such  an  inter- 
est in  that  boy,"  Webb  said  to  himself,  meditatively. 
"  There's  some  reason.  I  wish  I  could  find  out." 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

MRS.    MERTON   PASSES   A   PLEASANT   EVENING 

Ambrose  Kean  called  with  Luke  an  evening  or 
two  later  to  thank  Mrs.  Merton  in  person  for  her 
kindness.  They  arrived  ten  minutes  after  Mrs. 
Tracy  and  Harold  had  started  for  Hooley's  Theater, 
and  thus  were  saved  an  embarrassing  meeting  with 
two  persons  who  would  have  treated  them  frigidly. 

They  were  conducted  upstairs  by  the  servant, 
and  were  ushered  into  Mrs.  Merton's  room. 

Ambrose  Kean  was  naturally  ill  at  ease,  knowing 
that  Mrs.  Merton  was  acquainted  with  the  error  he 
had  committed.  But  the  old  lady  received  him  cor- 
dially. 

"  I  am  glad  to  meet  the  son  of  my  old  schoolmate, 
Mary  Robinson,"  she  said. 

"  In  spite  of  his  unworthiness  ?  "  returned  Am- 
brose, his  cheek  flushing  with  shame. 

"  I  don't  know  whether  he  is  unworthy.  That 
remains  to  be  seen." 

"  You  know  I  yielded  to  temptation  and  com- 
mitted a  theft." 

"  Yes ;  but  it  was  to  help  your  mother." 

"  It  was,  but  that  does  not  relieve  me  from  guilt." 


152  LUKE   WALTON 

"  You  are  right ;  still,  it  greatly  mitigates  it. 
Take  my  advice ;  forget  it,  and  never  again  yield  to 
a  similar  temptation." 

"  I  will  not,  indeed,  Mrs.  Merton,"  said  the  young 
man,  earnestly.  "  I  feel  that  I  have  been  very 
fortunate  in  escaping  the  consequences  of  my  folly, 
and  in  enlisting  your  sympathy." 

"  That  is  well !  Let  us  forget  this  disagreeable 
circumstance,  and  look  forward  to  the  future.  How 
is  Mary — your  mother?" 

"  She  is  an  invalid." 

"  And  poor.  There  is  a  remedy  for  poverty.  Let 
us  also  hope  there  is  a  remedy  for  her  ill-health. 
But  tell  me,  why  did  you  not  come  to  see  me  before? 
You  have  been  some  time  in  Chicago." 

"  True,  but  I  knew  you  were  a  rich  lady.  I  didn't 
think  you  would  remember  or  care  to  hear  from  one 
so  poor  and  obscure  as  my  mother." 

"  Come,  I  consider  that  far  from  a  compliment," 
said  the  old  lady.  "  You  really  thought  as  badly  of 
me  as  that  ?  " 

"  I  know  you  better  now,"  said  Ambrose,  grate- 
fully. 

"  It  is  well  you  do.  You  have  no  idea  how  inti- 
mate your  mother  and  I  used  to  be.  She  is  five  years 
my  junior,  I  think,  so  that  I  regarded  her  as  a 
younger  sister.  It  is  many  years  since  we  met. 
And  how  is  she  looking?  " 

"  She  shows  the  effects  of  bad  health,  but  I  don't 
think  she  looks  older  than  her  years." 


LUKE   WALTON  153 

"  We  have  both  changed  greatly,  no  doubt.  It  is 
to  be  expected.  But  you  can  tell  her  that  I  have  not 
forgotten  the  favorite  companion  of  my  school 
days." 

"  I  will  do  so,  for  I  know  it  will  warm  her  heart 
and  brighten  her  up." 

"  When  we  were  girls  together  our  worldly  cir- 
cumstances did  not  greatly  differ.  But  I  married, 
and  my  husband  was  very  successful  in  business.'* 

"  While  she  married  and  lost  all  she  had." 

"  It  is  often  so.  It  might  have  been  the  other 
way.  Your  mother  might  have  been  rich,  and  I 
poor ;  but  I  don't  think  she  would  have  been  spoiled 
by  prosperity  any  more  than  I  have  been.  Now  tell 
me  how  you  are  situated." 

"  I  am  a  clerk,  earning  twelve  dollars  a  week." 

"  And  your  employer — is  he  kind  and  consid- 
erate?" 

"  He  is  just,  but  he  has  strict  notions.  Had  he 
learned  my  slip  the  other  day  he  would  have  dis- 
charged me,  perhaps  had  me  arrested.  Now, 
thanks  to  your  prompt  kindness,  he  knows  and  will 
know  nothing  of  it." 

"  Is  he  likely  to  increase  your  salary  ?  " 

"  He  will  probably  raise  me  to  fifteen  dollars  a 
week  next  January.  Then  I  can  get  along  very 
well.  At  present  it  is  difficult  for  me,  after  sending 
my  mother  four  dollars  a  week,  to  live  on  the  bal- 
ance of  my  salary." 

"  I  should  think  it  would  be." 


154  LUKE   WALTON 

"  Still,  I  would  have  made  it  do,  but  for  mother's 
falling  sick,  and  so  needing  a  larger  allowance." 

"  I  hope  she  is  not  seriously  ill,"  said  Mrs.  Mer- 
ton,  with  solicitude. 

"  No,  fortunately  not.  I  think  she  will  be  as  well 
as  usual  in  a  few  weeks." 

"  Tell  her  I  inquired  particularly  for  her,  and 
that  I  send  her  my  love  and  remembrance." 

"  I  shall  be  only  too  glad  to  do  so." 

It  might  not  prove  interesting  to  the  reader  to 
detail  all  the  conversation  that  followed.  The  old 
lady  asked  many  questions,  and  furnished  some 
reminiscences  of  her  early  days.  The  time  slipped 
away  so  rapidly  that  Luke  was  surprised  when,  look- 
ing at  the  French  clock  on  the  mantel,  he  saw  that  it 
lacked  but  a  quarter  of  ten  o'clock. 

"  Mr.  Kean,"  he  said,  glancing  at  the  clock,  "  it 
is  getting  late." 

"  So  it  is,"  said  Ambrose,  rising.  "  I  am  afraid 
we  have  been  trespassing  upon  your  kindness,  Mrs. 
Merton." 

"  Not  at  all !  "  said  Mrs.  Merton,  promptly.  "  I 
have  enjoyed  the  evening,  I  can  assure  you.  Mr. 
Kean,  you  must  call  again." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  do  so,  if  you  will  permit  me." 

"  I  wish  you  to  do  so.  Luke  will  come  with 
you.  I  shall  want  to  hear  more  of  your  mother,  and 
how  she  gets  along." 

As  they  were  leaving,  Mrs.  Merton  slipped  into 
the  hand  of  Ambrose  Kean  an  envelope. 


LUKE    WALTON  155 

"  The  contents  is  for  your  mother,"  she  said.    "  I 

have  made  the  check  payable  to  you." 

"  Thank  you.    It  is  another  mark  of  your  kind- 
ness." 

When  Ambrose   Kean  examined  the  check,  he 

ascertained  to  his  joy  that  it  was  for  a  hundred 

dollars. 

"  What  a  splendid  old  lady  she  is,  Luke !  "  he  said, 

enthusiastically. 

"  She  is  always  kind,  Mr.  Kean.    I  have  much  to 

be  grateful  to  her  for.    I  wish  I  could  say  the  same 

of  other  members  of  the  family." 

"  What  other  members  of  the  family  are  there?  " 
"  A  niece,  Mrs.  Tracy,  and  her  son,  Harold." 
"  Why  didn't  we  see  them  to-night  ?  " 
"  I  don't  know.     I  suppose  they  were  out." 
The  next  day  Ambrose  handed  the  check  to  his 

employer  and  asked  if  he  would  indorse  it,  and  so 

enable  him  to  draw  the  money. 

James  Cooper  took  the  check  and  examined  the 

signature. 

"  Eliza  Merton,"  said  he.     "  Is  it  the  rich  Mrs. 

Merton  who  lives  on  Prairie  Avenue  ?  " 
"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Indeed ;   I   did   not  know   that   you   were   ac- 
quainted with  her." 

"  She  and  my  mother  were  schoolmates." 
"  And  so  you  keep  up  the  acquaintance  ?  " 
"  I  spent  last  evening  at  her  house.  This  cKeck 

is  a  gift  from  her  to  my  mother." 


156  LUKE   WALTON 

Ambrose  Kean  rose  greatly  in  the  estimation  of 
his  employer  when  the  latter  learned  that  Kean  had 
such  an  aristocratic  friend,  and  he  was  treated  with 
more  respect  and  consideration  than  before.  It  need 
not  excite  surprise,  for  it  is  the  way  of  the  world. 

Meanwhile  Harold  and  his  mother  had  enjoyed 
themselves  at  the  theater. 

"  I  suppose  Aunt  Eliza  wet  to  bed  early, 
Harold,"  said  Mrs.  Tracy,  as  they  were  on  their 
way  home. 

"  Went  to  roost  with  the  hens,"  suggested  Harold, 
laughing  at  what  he  thought  to  be  a  good  joke. 

"  Probably  it  is  as  well  for  her,"  said  his  mother. 
"  It  isn't  good  for  old  people  to  sit  up  late." 

It  was  about  half-past  eleven  when  they  were  ad- 
mitted by  the  drowsy  servant. 

"  I  suppose  Mrs.  Merton  went  to  bed  long  ago, 
Laura,"  said  Mrs.  Tracy. 

"  No,  ma'am,  she  set  up  later  than  usual." 

"  That  is  odd.    I  thought  she  would  feel  lonely." 

"  Oh,  she  had  company,  ma'am." 

"Company!    Who?" 

"  Master  Luke  was  here  all  the  evenin',  and  a 
young  man  with  him." 

Mrs.  Tracy  frowned  ominously. 

"  The  sly  young  artful !  "  she  said  to  Harold  when 
they  were  alone.  "  He  is  trying  all  he  can  to  get  on 
aunt's  weak  side.  Something  will  have  to  be  done, 
or  we  shall  be  left  out  in  the  cold." 


CHAPTER    XXV 
MRS.  TRACY'S  BROTHER 

A  day  or  two  later,  while  Mrs.  Merton  was  in  the 
city  shopping,  accompanied  by  Luke,  a  man  of  thirty 
years  of  age  ascended  the  steps  of  the  house  on 
Prairie  Avenue  and  rang  the  bell. 

"  Is  Mrs.  Tracy  at  home  ?  "  he  asked  of  the  serv- 
ant who  answered  the  bell. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  what  name  shall  I  give  ?  " 

"  Never  mind  about  the  name.  Say  it  is  an  old 
friend." 

"  Won't  you  come  in,  sir?  " 

"  Yes,  I  believe  I  will." 

Mrs.  Tracy  received  the  message  with  surprise 
mingled  with  curiosity. 

"  Who  can  it  be  ?  "  she  asked  herself. 

She  came  downstairs  without  delay. 

The  stranger,  who  had  taken  a  seat  in  the  hall, 
rose  and  faced  her. 

"  Don't  you  know  me,  Louisa  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Is  it  you,  Warner  ?  "  she  exclaimed,  surprised 
and  startled. 

"  Yes,"  he  answered,  laughing.  "  It's  a  good 
while  since  we  met." 

«57 


158  LUKE   WALTON 


"  Five  years.     And  have  you " 

"What— reformed?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,  I  can't  say  as  to  that.  I  can  only  tell  you 
that  I  am  not  wanted  by  the  police  at  present.  Is 
the  old  lady  still  alive?" 

"Aunt  Eliza?" 

"  Of  course." 

"  Yes,  she  is  alive  and  well." 

"  I  thought  perhaps  she  might  have  died,  and  left 
you  in  possession  of  her  property." 

"  Not  yet.  I  don't  think  she  has  any  intention  of 
dying  for  a  considerable  number  of  years." 

"  That  is  awkward.  Has  she  done  nothing  for 
you?" 

"  We  have  a  free  home  here,  and  she  makes  me  a 
moderate  allowance,  but  she  is  not  disposed  to  part 
with  much  of  her  money  while  she  lives." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that.  I  thought  you  might  be 
able  to  help  me  to  some  money.  I  am  terribly 
hard  up." 

"  You  always  were,  no  matter  how  much  money 
you  had." 

"  I  never  had  much.  The  next  thing  is,  how  does 
the  old  lady  feel  towards  me  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  she  feels  very  friendly,  though 
nothing  has  passed  between  us  respecting  you  for 
a  long  time.  She  has  very  strict  notions  about  hon- 
esty, and  when  you  embezzled  your  employer's 
money  you  got  into  her  black  books." 


LUKE   WALTON  159 

"  That  was  a  youthful  indiscretion,"  said  Warner, 
smiling.  "  Can't  you  convince  her  of  that  ?  " 

"  I  doubt  if  I  can  lead  her  to  think  of  it  in  that 
light." 

"  I  know  what  that  means,  Louisa.  You  want  to 
get  the  whole  of  the  old  lady's  property  for  your- 
self and  that  boy  of  yours.  You  always  were 
selfish." 

"  No,  Warner,  though  I  think  I  am  entitled  to 
the  larger  part  of  aunt's  money,  I  don't  care  to  have 
you  left  out  in  the  cold.  I  will  do  what  I  can  to 
reconcile  her  to  you." 

"  Come,  that's  fair  and  square.  You're  a  trump, 
Louisa.  You  have  not  forgotten  that  I  am  your 
brother." 

"  No,  I  am  not  so  selfish  as  you  think.  If  I  don't 
succeed  in  restoring  you  to  Aunt  Eliza's  good  graces, 
and  she  chooses  to  leave  me  all  her  property,  I 
promise  to  take  care  of  you  and  allow  you  a  fair 
income." 

"That's  all  right,  but  I  would  rather  the  old 
lady  would  provide  for  me  herself." 

"  Do  you  doubt  my  word  ?  " 

"  No,  but  your  idea  of  what  would  be  a  fair  in- 
come might  differ  from  mine.  How  much  do  you 
think  the  old  lady's  worth  ?  " 

"  Quarter  of  a  million,  I  should  think,"  replied 
Mrs.  Tracy,  guardedly. 

"  Yes,  and  considerably  more,  too." 

"  Perhaps  so.    I  have  no  means  of  judging." 


160  LUKE   WALTON 

"  Supposing  it  to  be  the  figure  you  name,  how 
much  would  you  be  willing  to  give  me,  if  she  leaves 
me  out  in  the  cold  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  prepared  to  say,  Warner.  I  would  see 
that  you  had  no  good  reason  to  complain." 

"  I  should  prefer  to  have  you  name  a  figure,  so 
that  I  might  know  what  to  depend  upon." 

But  this  Mrs.  Tracy  declined  to  do,  though  her 
brother  continued  to  urge  her. 

"  Where  have  you  been  for  a  few  years  past, 
Warner?  "  she  asked. 

"  Floating  about.  At  first  I  didn't  dare  to  come 
back.  It  was  a  year  at  least  before  I  heard  that 
aunt  had  paid  up  the  sum  I  got  away  with.  When 
I  did  hear  it  I  was  in  Australia." 

"What  did  you  do  there?" 

"  I  was  a  bookkeeper  in  Melbourne  for  a  time. 
Then  I  went  into  the  country.  From  Australia  I 
came  to  California,  and  went  to  the  mines.  In  fact, 
I  have  only  just  come  from  there." 

"  Didn't  you  manage  to  make  money  anywhere  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  it  didn't  stick  by  me.  How  much 
money  do  you  think  I  have  about  me  now  ?  " 

"  I  can't  guess,"  said  Mrs.  Tracy,  uneasily.    - 

"  Five  dollars  and  a  few  cents.  However,  I  am 
sure  you  will  help  me,"  he  continued. 

"  Really,  Warner,  you  mustn't  hope  for  too  much 
from  me.  I  have  but  a  small  allowance  from  Aunt 
Eliza — hardly  enough  to  buy  necessary  articles  for 
Harold  and  myself." 


LUKE    WALTON  161 

**  Then  you  can  speak  to  aunt  in  my  behalf." 

"  Yes,  I  can  do  that." 

"Where  is  she?" 

"  She  has  gone  out  shopping  this  morning." 

"  Alone,  or  is  Harold  with  her  ?  " 

"  Neither,"  answered  Mrs.  Tracy,  her  brow  dark- 
cning.  "  She  has  picked  up  a  boy  from  the  street, 
and  installed  him  as  a  first  favorite." 

"That's  queer,  isn't  it?" 

"  Yes ;  but  Aunt  Eliza  was  always  queer." 

"  What's  the  boy's  name  ?  " 

"  Luke  Walton." 

"What's  his  character?" 

"  Sly — artful.  He  is  scheming  to  have  aunt  leave 
him  something  in  her  will." 

"  If  she  leaves  him  a  few  hundred  dollars  it  won't 
hurt  us  much." 

"  You  don't  know  the  boy.  He  won't  be  satisfied 
with  that." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  his  influence  over 
aunt  is  dangerous  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do." 

"Can't  you  get  her  to  bounce  him?" 

"  I  have  done  what  I  could,  but  she  seems  to  be 
infatuated.  If  he  were  a  gentleman's  son  I  shouldn't 
mind  so  much,  but  Harold  saw  him  the  other  day 
selling  papers  near  the  Sherman  House." 

"  Do  you  think  aunt's  mind  is  failing?  " 

"  She  seems  rational  enough  on  all  other  subjects. 
She  was  always  shrewd  and  sharp,  you  know." 


i62  LUKE    WALTON 

"  Well,  that's  rather  an  interesting  state  of  things. 
I  haven't  returned  to  Chicago  any  too  soon." 

"  Why  do  you  say  that  ?  " 

"  Because  it  will  be  my  duty  to  spoil  the  chances 
of  this  presuming  young  man." 

"  That  is  easier  said  than  done.  You  forget  that 
Aunt  Eliza  thinks  a  great  deal  more  of  him  than  she 
does  of  you." 

"  I  haven't  a  doubt  that  you  are  right." 

"  Then  what  can  you  do  ?  " 

"  Convince  her  that  he  is  a  scapegrace.  Get  him 
into  a  scrape,  in  other  words." 

"  But  he  is  too  smart  to  be  dishonest,  if  that  is 
what  you  mean." 

"  It  is  not  necessary  for  him  to  be  dishonest.  It 
is  only  necessary  for  her  to  think  he  is  dishonest." 

There  was  some  further  conversation.  As  War- 
ner Powell  was  leaving  the  house,  after  promising 
to  call  in  the  evening,  he  met  on  the  steps  Mrs. 
Merton,  under  the  escort  of  Luke  Walton. 

The  old  lady  eyed  him  sharply. 


CHAPTER   XXVI 
THE  PRODIGAL'S  RECEPTION 

"  Don't  you  know  me,  Aunt  Eliza  ?  "  asked  War- 
ner Powell,  casting  down  his  eyes  under  the  sharp 
glance  of  the  old  lady. 

"  So  it  is  you,  is  it?  "  responded  Mrs.  Merton,  in 
a  tone  which  could  not  be  considered  cordial. 

"  Yes,  it  is  I.  I  hope  you  are  not  sorry  to  see 
me?" 

"  Humph !  It  depends  on  whether  you  have  im- 
proved or  not." 

Luke  Walton  listened  with  natural  interest  and 
curiosity.  This  did  not  suit  Mrs.  Tracy,  who  did 
not  care  to  have  a  stranger  made  acquainted  with 
her  brother's  peccadilloes. 

"  Warner,"  she  said,  "  I  think  Aunt  Eliza  will  do 
you  the  justice  to  listen  to  your  explanation.  I 
imagine,  young  man,  Mrs.  Merton  will  not  require 
your  services  any  longer  to-day." 

The  last  words  were  addressed  to  Luke. 

"  Yes,  Luke ;  you  can  go,"  said  the  old  lady,  in  a 
very  different  tone. 

Luke  bowed,  and  left  the  house. 

"  Louisa,"  said  Mrs.  Merton,  "  in  five  minutes 
you  may  bring  your  brother  up  to  my  room." 

163 


164  LUKE    WALTON 

"  Thank  you,  aunt." 

When  they  entered  the  apartment  they  found 
the  old  lady  seated  in  a  rocking-chair  awaiting  them. 

"  So  you  have  reformed,  have  you  ?  "  she  asked, 
abruptly. 

"  I  hope  so,  Aunt  Eliza." 

"  I  hope  so,  too.  It  is  full  time.  Where  have 
you  been  ?  " 

"  To  Australia,  California,  and  elsewhere." 

"  A  rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss." 

"  In  this  case  it  applies,"  said  Warner.  "  I  have 
earned  more  or  less  money,  but  I  have  none  now." 

"  How  old  are  you  ?  " 

"  Thirty." 

"  A  young  man  ought  not  to  be  penniless  at  that 
age.  If  you  had  remained  in  your  place  at  Mr. 
Afton's,  and  behaved  yourself,  you  would  be  able 
to  tell  a  different  story." 

"  I  know  it,  aunt." 

"  Don't  be  too  hard  upon  him,  Aunt  Eliza,"  put 
in  Mrs.  Tracy.  "  He  is  trying  to  do  well  now." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  it." 

"  Would  you  mind  my  inviting  him  to  stay  here 
for  a  time?  The  house  is  large,  you  know." 

Mrs.  Merton  paused.  She  didn't  like  the  arrange- 
ment, but  she  was  a  just  and  merciful  woman,  and 
it  was  possible  that  Warner  had  reformed,  though 
she  was  not  fully  satisfied  on  that  point. 

"  For  a  time,"  she  answered,  "  till  he  can  find  em- 
ployment." 


LUKE    WALTON  165 

"  Thank  you,  Aunt  Eliza,"  said  the  young  man, 
relieved,  for  he  had  been  uncertain  how  his  aunt 
would  treat  him.  "  I  hope  to  show  that  your  kind- 
ness is  appreciated." 

"  I  am  rather  tired  now,"  responded  Mrs.  Merton, 
as  an  indication  that  the  interview  was  over. 

"  We'd  better  go  and  let  aunt  rest,"  said  War- 
ner, with  alacrity.  He  did  not  feel  altogether  com- 
fortable in  the  society  of  the  old  lady. 

When  they  were  alone  Mrs.  Tracy  turned  to  her 
brother  with  a  smile  of  satisfaction. 

"  You  have  reason  to  congratulate  yourself  on 
your  reception,"  she  said. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.  The  old  woman  wasn't 
very  complimentary." 

"  Be  careful  how  you  speak  of  her.  She  might 
hear  you,  or  the  servants  might,  and  report." 

"  Well,  she  is  an  old  woman,  isn't  she  ?  " 

"  It  is  much  better  to  refer  to  her  as  the  old  lady 
— better  still  to  speak  of  her  as  Aunt  Eliza." 

':  I  hope  she  will  make  up  her  mind  to  do  some- 
thing for  me." 

"  She  has ;  she  gives  you  a  home  in  this  house." 

"  I  would  a  good  deal  rather  have  her  pay  my 
board  outside,  where  I  would  feel  more  independ- 
ent." 

"  I  have  been  thinking,  Warner,  you  might  be- 
come her  secretary  and  man  of  business.  In  that 
case  she  would  dispense  with  this  boy,  whose  pres- 
ence bodes  danger  to  us  all." 


166  LUKE   WALTON 

"  I  wouldn't  mind  being  her  man  of  business,  to 
take  charge  of  her  money,  but  as  to  trotting  round 
town  with  her  like  a  lame  poodle,  please  excuse 
me." 

"  Warner,"  said  his  sister,  rather  sharply,  "  just 
remember,  if  you  please,  that  beggars  can't  be 
choosers." 

"  Perhaps  not,  but  this  plan  of  yours  would  be 
foolish.  She  wouldn't  like  it,  nor  would  I.  Why 
don't  you  put  Harold  up  to  offering  his  services? 
He's  as  large  as  this  boy,  isn't  he?  " 

"  He  is  about  the  same  size." 

"  Then  it  would  be  a  capital  plan.  You  would 
get  rid  of  the  boy  that  way." 

"  You  forget  that  Harold  has  not  finished  his  ed- 
ucation. He  is  now  attending  a  commercial  school. 
I  should  like  to  have  him  go  to  college,  but  he 
doesn't  seem  to  care  about  it." 

"  So,  after  all,  the  boy  seems  to  be  a  necessity." 

"  I  would  prefer  a  different  boy,  less  artful  and 
designing." 

"  How  much  does  the  old  woman — beg  pardon, 
the  old  lady — pay  him  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  Harold  asked  Luke,  but  he 
wouldn't  tell.  I  have  no  doubt  he  manages  to 
secure  twice  as  much  as  his  services  are  worth. 
He's  got  on  Aunt  Eliza's  blind  side." 

"  Just  what  I  would  like  to  do,  but  I  have  never 
been  able  to  discover  that  she  had  any." 

"  Did  you  take  notice  of  the  boy  ?  " 


LUKE   WALTON  167 

"Yes;  he's  rather  a  good-looking  youngster,  it 
seems  to  me." 

"  How  can  you  say  so  ?  "  demanded  Mrs.  Tracy, 
sharply.  "  There's  a  very  common  look  about  him, 
I  think.  He  isn't  nearly  as  good-looking  as  Har- 
old." 

"  Harold  used  to  look  like  you,"  said  Warner, 
with  a  smile.  "  Natural  you  should  think  him 
good-looking.  But  don't  it  show  a  little  self-con- 
ceit, Louisa  ?  " 

"  That's  a  poor  joke,"  answered  his  sister,  coldly. 
"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  Going  out  to  see  if  I  can  find  any  of  my  old  ac- 
quaintances." 

"  You  had  much  better  look  for  a  position,  as 
Aunt  Eliza  hinted." 

"  Don't  be  in  such  a  hurry,  Louisa.  Please  bear 
in  mind  that  I  have  only  just  arrived  in  Chicago 
after  an  absence  of  five  years." 

"  Dinner  will  be  ready  in  half  an  hour." 

"  Thank  you.  I  don't  think  I  should  like  a 
second  interview  with  Aunt  Eliza  quite  so  soon.  I 
will  lunch  outside." 

"  A  lunch  outside  costs  money,  and  you  are  not 
very  well  provided  in  that  way." 

"  Don't  trouble  yourself  about  that,  Louisa.  I 
intend  to  be  very  economical. 

"  My  estimable  sister  is  about  as  mean  as  anyone 
I  know,"  said  Warner  to  himself  as  he  left  the 
house.  "  Between  her  and  the  old  woman,  I  don't 


168  LUKE   WALTON 

think  I  shall  find  it  very  agreeable  living  here.  A 
cheap  boarding  house  would  be  infinitely  prefer- 
able." 

On  State  Street  Warner  Powell  fell  in  with  Ste- 
phen Webb,  an  old  acquaintance. 

"Is  it  you,  Warner?"  asked  Webb,  in  surprise. 
"  It's  an  age  since  I  saw  you." 

"  So  it  is.  I  haven't  been  in  Chicago  for  five 
years." 

"I  remember.    A  little  trouble,  wasn't  there?" 

"  Yes ;  but  I'm  all  right  now,  except  that  I  haven't 
any  money  to  speak  of." 

"  That's  my  situation  exactly." 

"  However,  I've  got  an  old  aunt  worth  a  million, 
more  or  less,  only  she  doesn't  fully  appreciate  her 
nephew." 

"  And  I  have  an  uncle,  pretty  well  to  do,  who  isn't 
so  deeply  impressed  with  my  merits  as  I  wish  he 
were." 

".I  am  staying  with  my  aunt  just  at  present,  but 
hope  to  have  independent  quarters  soon.  One 
trouble  is,  she  takes  a  fancy  to  a  boy  named  Luke 
Walton." 

"  Luke  Walton !  "  repeated  Stephen,  in  amaze- 
ment. 

"  Do  you  know  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  my  uncle  has  set  me  to  spy  on  him — why, 
I  haven't  been  able  to  find  out.  So  he  is  in  favor 
with  your  aunt  ?  " 

"  Yes,  he  calls  at  the  house  every  day,  and  is  in 


LUKE   WALTON  169 

her  employ.  Sometimes  she  goes  out  shopping  with 
him." 

"  That's  strange.  Let  us  drop  into  the  Saratoga 
and  compare  notes." 

They  turned  into  Dearborn  Street,  and  sat  down 
to  lunch  in  the  Saratoga,  a  popular  restaurant 
already  referred  to. 


CHAPTER    XXVII 

UNCLE   AND    NEPHEW 

"  So  this  boy  is  an  object  of  interest  to  your 
uncle  ?  "  resumed  Warner  Powell. 

"  Yes." 

"  Does  he  give  any  reason  for  his  interest  ?  " 

"  No,  except  that  he  is  inclined  to  help  him  when 
there  is  an  opportunity." 

"  Does  the  boy  know  him  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Has  he  met  your  uncle  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  Uncle  Thomas  frequently  visits  Chicago 
• — he  lives  in  Milwaukee — and  stays  at  the  Sherman 
•when  he  is  here.  He  has  stopped  and  bought  a 
paper  of  Luke  once  or  twice." 

"  I  remember  my  sister  told  me  this  boy  Luke  was 
a  newsboy." 

"  How  did  he  get  in  with  your  aunt?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I  presume  it  was  a  chance 
acquaintance.  However  that  may  be,  the  young 
rascal  seems  to  have  got  on  her  blind  side,  and  to 
be  installed  first  favorite." 

"  Your  sister  doesn't  like  it  ?  " 

"  Not  much.  Between  you  and  me,  Louisa — 
170 


LUKE   WALTON  171 

Mrs.  Tracy — means  to  inherit  all  the  old  lady's 
property,  and  doesn't  like  to  have  anyone  come 
in,  even  for  a  trifle.  She'll  have  me  left  out  in  the 
cold  if  she  can,  but  I  mean  to  have  something  to 
say  to  that.  In  such  matters  you  can't  trust  even 
your  own  sister." 

"  I  agree  with  you,  Warner." 

The  two  young  men  ate  a  hearty  dinner,  and  then 
adjourned  to  a  billiard  room,  where  they  spent  the 
afternoon  over  the  game.  Warner  reached  home  in 
time  for  supper. 

"Where  have  you  been,  Warner?"  asked  Mrs. 
Tracy. 

"  Looking  for  work,"  was  the  answer. 

"  What  success  did  you  meet  with  ?  " 

"  Not  much  as  yet.  I  fell  in  with  an  old  ac- 
quaintance, who  may  assist  me  in  that  direction." 

"  I  am  glad  you  have  lost  no  time  in  seeking  em- 
ployment. It  will  please  aunt." 

Warner  Powell  suppressed  a  smile.  He  wondered 
what  Mrs.  Merton  would  have  thought  could  she 
have  seen  in  what  manner  he  prosecuted  his  search 
for  employment. 

"  This  is  Harold,"  said  Mrs.  Tracy,  proudly,  as 
her  son  came  in.  "  Harold,  this  is  your  Uncle 
Warner." 

Harold  shrugged  his  shoulders.  He  did  not  seem 
particularly  glad  to  meet  his  new  relative.  He 
scanned  him  critically  from  head  to  foot,  and  in- 
wardly pronounced  him  very  ill  dressed. 


172  LUKE   WALTON 

"  So  you  are  Harold,"  said  his  uncle.  "  I  re- 
member you  in  short  pants.  You  have  changed 
considerably  in  five  years." 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so,"  answered  Harold,  curtly. 
"  Where  have  you  been  ?  " 

"  In  Australia,  California,  and  so  on." 

"  How  long  are  you  going  to  stay  in  Chicago  ?  " 

"  That  depends  on  whether  I  can  find  employ- 
ment. If  you  hear  of  a  place  let  me  know." 

"  I  don't  know  of  any  unless  Aunt  Eliza  will  take 
you  into  her  employ  in  place  of  that  newsboy,  Luke 
Walton." 

"  She  can  have  me  if  she  will  pay  me  enough 
salary.  How  much  does  Luke  get  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.     He  won't  tell." 

"  Do  you  like  him  ?  " 

"  I  don't  consider  him  a  fit  associate  for  me.  He 
is  a  common  newsboy." 

"  Does  Aunt  Eliza  know  that?  " 

"  Yes ;  it  makes  no  difference  to  her.  She's  in- 
fatuated with  him." 

"  I  wish  she  were  infatuated  with  me.  I  shall 
have  to  ask  Luke  his  secret.  Aunt  Eliza  doesn't 
prefer  him  to  you,  does  she?." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  she  does.  She's  very  queer 
about  some  things." 

"  Harold,"  said  his  mother,  solicitously,  "  I  don't 
think  you  pay  Aunt  Eliza  enough  attention.  Old 
persons,  you  know,  like  to  receive  courtesies." 

"I  treat  her  politely,  don't  I?"  asked  Harold, 


LUKE   WALTON  173 

aggressively.  "  I  can't  be  dancing  attendance  upon 
her  and  flattering  her  all  the  time." 

"  From  what  I  have  seen  of  Luke  Walton," 
thought  Warner  Powell,  "  I  should  decidedly  prefer 
him  to  this  nephew  of  mine.  He  seems  conceited 
and  disagreeable.  Of  course,  it  won't  do  to  tell 
Louisa  that,  for  she  evidently  admires  her  grace- 
less cub,  because  he  is  hers." 

"  Are  you  intimate  with  this  Luke  ?  "  asked  War- 
ner, mischievously. 

"  What  do  you  take  me  for  ?  "  demanded  Harold, 
offended.  "  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  getting  inti- 
mate with  street  boys." 

Warner  Powell  laughed. 

"  I  am  not  so  proud  as  you,  Nephew  Harold,"  he 
said.  "  Travelers  pick  up  strange  companions. 
In  San  Francisco  I  became  intimate  with  a  China- 
man." 

"You  don't  mean  it?"  exclaimed  Harold,  in  in- 
credulity and  disgust. 

"  Yes,  I  do." 

"  You  weren't  in  the  laundry  business  with  him, 
were  you  ?  "  went  on  Harold,  with  a  sneer. 

"  I  should  like  to  give  my  nephew  a  good  shak- 
ing," thought  Warner.  "  He  knows  how  to  be  im- 
pertinent. 

"  No,"  he  answered  aloud.  "  The  laundry  busi- 
ness may  be  a  very  good  one — I  should  like  the  in- 
come it  produces  even  now — but  I  don't  think  I  have 
the  necessary  talent  for  it.  My  Chinese  friend  was 


174  LUKE   WALTON 

a  commission  merchant  worth  at  least  a  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  I  wasn't  above  borrowing  money 
from  him  sometimes." 

"  Of  course,  that  makes  a  difference,"  said  Mrs. 
Tracy,  desiring  to  make  peace  between  her  brother 
and  son.  "  He  must  have  been  a  superior  man. 
Harold  thought  you  meant  a  common  Chinaman, 
such  as  we  have  in  Chicago." 

The  reunited  family  sat  down  to  supper  together. 
Warner  Powell  tried  to  make  himself  agreeable,  and 
succeeded  in  thawing  his  aunt's  coldness.  He  ap- 
peared to  advantage  compared  with  Harold,  whose 
disposition  was  not  calculated  to  win  friends  for 
himself. 

After  supper  Warner  made  an  excuse  for  going 
out. 

"  I  have  an  engagement  with  a  friend  who  knows 
of  a  position  he  thinks  I  can  secure,"  he  said. 

"  I  hope  you  won't  be  late,"  said  Mrs.  Tracy. 

"  No,  I  presume  not,  but  you  had  better  give  me 
a  pass  key." 

Mrs.  Tracy  did  so  reluctantly.  She  was  afraid 
Harold  might  want  to  join  his  uncle;  but  the 
nephew  was  not  taken  with  his  new  relative,  and 
made  no  such  proposal. 

In  reality,  Warner  Powell  had  made  an  engage- 
ment to  go  to  McVicker's  Theater  with  his  friend 
Stephen  Webb,  who  had  arranged  to  meet  him  at 
the  Sherman  House. 

While  waiting,   Warner,  who  had  an  excellent 


LUKE   WALTON  175 

memory  for  faces,  recognized  Luke,  who  was 
selling  papers  at  his  usual  post.  There  was  some 
startling  news  in  the  evening  papers — a  collision 
on  Lake  Michigan — and  Luke  had  ordered  an  un- 
usual supply,  which  occupied  him  later  than  his 
ordinary  hour.  He  had  taken  a  hasty  supper  at 
Brockway  &  Milan's,  foreseeing  that  he  would  not 
be  home  till  late. 

"  Aunt  Eliza's  boy !  "  thought  Warner.  "  I  may 
as  well  take  this  opportunity  to  cultivate  his  ac- 
quaintance." 

He  went  up  to  Luke  and  asked  for  a  paper. 

"  You  don't  remember  me?  "  he  said,  with  a  smile. 

"  No,"  answered  Luke,  looking  puzzled. 

"  I  saw  you  on  Prairie  Avenue  this  morning. 
Mrs.  Merton  is  my  aunt." 

"  I  remember  you  now.  Are  you  Mrs.  Tracy's 
brother?" 

"  Yes,  and  the  uncle  of  Harold.  How  do  you  and 
Harold  get  along?" 

"  Not  at  all.     He  takes  very  little  notice  of  me." 

"  He  is  a  snob.  Being  his  uncle,  I  take  the  liberty 
to  say  it." 

Luke  smiled. 

"  There  is  no  love  lost  between  us,"  he  said.  "  I 
would  like  to  be  more  friendly,  but  he  treats  me 
like  an  enemy." 

"  He  is  jealous  of  your  favor  with  my  aunt." 

"  There  is  no  occasion  for  it.  He  is  a  relative,  and 
I  am  only  in  her  employ." 


176  LUKE   WALTON 

"  She  thinks  a  good  deal  of  you,  doesn't  she  ?  " 

"  She  treats  me  very  kindly." 

"  Harold  suggested  to  me  this  evening  at  supper 
that  I  should  take  your  place.  You  needn't  feel 
anxious.  I  have  no  idea  of  doing  so,  and  she 
wouldn't  have  me  if  I  had." 

"  I  think  a  man  like  you  could  do  better." 

"  I  am  willing  to.  But  here  comes  my  friend, 
who  is  going  to  the  theater  with  me." 

Looking  up,  Luke  was  surprised  to  see  Stephen 
Webb. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 
HAROLD'S  TEMPTATION 

Mrs.  Merton  was  rather  astonished  when  her 
grandnephew  Harold  walked  into  her  room  one 
day  and  inquired  for  her  health.  (She  had  been 
absent  from  the  dinner  table  on  account  of  a  head- 
ache.) 

"  Thank  you,  Harold,"  she  said.  "  I  am  feeling 
a  little  better." 

"  Have  you  any  errand  you  would  like  to  have  me 
do  for  you  ?  " 

Mrs.  Merton  was  still  more  surprised,  for  offers 
of  services  were  rare  with  Harold. 

"  Thank  you  again,"  she  said,  "  but  Luke  was 
here  this  morning,  and  I  gave  him  two  or  three 
commissions." 

Harold  frowned  a  little  at  the  mention  of  Luke's 
name,  but  he  quickly  smoothed  his  brow,  for  he 
wished  to  propitiate  his  aunt. 

"  Perhaps  you  would  like  me  to  read  to  you,  Aunt 
Eliza." 

"  Thank  you,  but  I  am  a  little  afraid  it  wouldn't 
be  a  good  thing  for  my  head.  How  are  you  getting 
on  at  school,  Harold  ?  " 

in 


i;8  LUKE   WALTON 

"  Pretty  well." 

"  You  don't  want  to  go  to  college  ?  " 

"  No.  I  think  I  would  rather  be  a  business 
man." 

"  Well,  you  know  your  own  tastes  best." 

"  Aunt  Eliza,"  said  Harold,  after  a  pause,  "  I 
want  to  ask  a  favor  of  you." 

"  Speak  out,  Harold." 

"  Won't  you  be  kind  enough  to  give  me  ten  dol- 
lars?" 

"  Ten  dollars,"  repeated  the  old  lady,  eying  Har- 
old closely.  "  Why  do  you  want  ten  dollars  ?  " 

"  You  see,  mother  keeps  me  very  close.  All  the 
fellows  have  more  money  to  spend  than  I." 

"  How  much  does  your  mother  give  you  as  an 
allowance  ?  " 

"  Two  dollars  a  week." 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  is  liberal,  considering  that 
you  don't  have  to  pay  for  your  board  or  clothes." 

"A  boy  in  my  position  is  expected  to  spend 
money." 

"  Who  expects  it  ?  " 

"  Why,  everybody." 

"  By  the  way,  what  is  your  position  ?  "  asked  the 
old  lady,  pointedly. 

"  Why,"  said  Harold,  uneasily,  "  I  am  supposed 
to  be  rich,  as  I  live  in  a  nice  neighborhood  on  a 
fashionable  street." 

"That  doesn't  make  you  rich,  does  it?" 

"  No,"  answered  Harold,  with  hesitation. 


LUKE   WALTON  179 

"  You  don't  feel  absolutely  obliged  to  spend  more 
than  your  allowance,  do  you  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  see,  the  fellows  think  I  am  mean  if 
I  don't  There's  Ben  Clark  has  an  allowance  of 
five  dollars  a  week,  and  he  is  three  months  younger 
than  I  am." 

"  Then  I  think  his  parents  or  guardians  are  very 
unwise.  How  does  he  spend  his  liberal  allow- 
ance?" 

"  Oh,  he  has  a  good  time." 

"  I  am  afraid  it  isn't  the  sort  of  good  time  I 
would  approve." 

"  Luke  has  more  money  than  I  have,  and  he  is 
only  a  newsboy,"  grumbled  Harold. 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"  I  notice  he  always  has  money." 

"  I  doubt  whether  he  spends  half  a  dollar  a  week 
on  his  own  amusement.  He  has  a  mother  and 
young  brother  to  support." 

"  He  says  so !  " 

"So  you  doubt  it?" 

"  It  may  be  true." 

"  If  you  find  it  isn't  true  you  can  let  me  know." 

Harold  did  not  answer.  He  had  no  real  doubt 
on  the  subject,  but  liked  to  say  something  ill- 
natured  about  Luke. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  you  think  so  much  more  of  Luke 
than  of  me,"  complained  Harold. 

"  How  do  you  know  I  do  ?  " 

"  Mother  thinks  so  as  well  as  I." 


i8o  LUKE   WALTON 

"  Suppose  we  leave  Luke  out  of  consideration.  I 
shall  think  as  much  of  you  as  ycu  deserve." 

Harold  rose  from  his  seat. 

"As  you  have  no  eriand  for  me,  Aunt  Eliza,  I 
will  go,"  he  said. 

"Wait  a  moment." 

Mrs.  Merton  unlocked  a  drawer  in  a  work  table, 
took  out  a  morocco  pocketbook,  and  extracted  there- 
from a  ten-dollar  bill. 

"  You  have  asked  me  a  favor,  and  I  will  grant 
it — for  once,"  she  said.  "  Here  are  ten  dollars." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Harold,  joyfully. 

"  I  won't  even  ask  how  you  propose  to  spend  it. 
I  thought  of  doing  so,  but  it  would  imply  distrust, 
and  for  this  occasion  I  won't  show  any." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Aunt  Eliza." 

"  I  am  glad  you  think  so.  You  are  welcome  to 
the  money." 

Harold  left  the  room  in  high  spirits.  He  decided 
not  to  let  his  mother  know  that  he  had  received  so 
large  a  sum,  as  she  might  inquire  to  what  use  he 
intended  to  put  it;  and  some  of  his  expenditures, 
he  felt  pretty  sure,  would  not  be  approved  by  her. 

He  left  the  house,  and  going  downtown,  joined 
a  couple  of  friends  of  his  own  stamp.  They  ad- 
journed to  a  billiard  saloon,  and  between  billiards, 
bets  upon  the  game,  and  drinks,  Harold  managed 
to  spend  three  dollar*  before  suppertime. 

Three  days  later  the  entire  sum  given  him  by  his 
aunt  was  gone. 


LUKE    WALTON  181 

When  Harold  made  the  discovery,  he  sighed.  His 
dream  was  over.  It  had  been  pleasant  as  long  as  it 
lasted,  but  it  was  over  too  soon. 

"  Now  I  must  go  back  to  my  mean  allowance," 
he  said  to  himself,  in  a  discontented  tone.  "  Aunt 
Eliza  might  give  me  ten  dollars  every  week  just  as 
well  as  not.  She  is  positively  rolling  in  wealth, 
while  I  have  to  grub  along  like  a  newsboy.  Why, 
that  fellow  Luke  has  a  great  deal  more  money 
than  I." 

A  little  conversation  which  he  had  with  his  Uncle 
Warner  made  his  discontent  more  intense. 

"  Hello,  Harold,  what  makes  you  look  so  blue?  " 
he  asked  one  day. 

"  Because  I  haven't  got  any  money,"  answered 
Harold. 

"  Doesn't  your  mother  or  Aunt  Eliza  give  you 
any?" 

"  I  get  a  little,  but  it  isn't  as  much  as  the  other 
fellows  get." 

"How  much?" 

"  Two  dollars  a  week." 

"  It  is  more  than  I  had  when  I  was  of  your 
age." 

"  That  doesn't  make  it  any  better." 

"  Aunt  Eliza  isn't  exactly  lavish ;  still,  she  pays 
Luke  Walton  generously." 

"  Do  you  know  how  much  he  gets  a  week  ?  " 
asked  Harold,  eagerly. 

"  Ten  dollars." 


i8z  LUKE   WALTON 

"  Ten  dollars !  "  ejaculated  Harold.  "  You  don't 
really  mean  it." 

"  Yes,  I  do.  I  saw  her  pay  him  that  sum  yes- 
terday. I  asked  her  if  it  wasn't  liberal.  She  ad- 
mitted it,  but  said  he  had  a  mother  and  brother  to 
support !  " 

"  It's  a  shame !  "  cried  Harold,  passionately. 

"Why  is  it?     The  money  is  her  own,  isn't  it?" 

"  She  ought  not  to  treat  a  stranger  better  than 
her  own  nephew." 

"  That  means  me,  I  judge,"  said  Warner,  smil- 
ing. "  Well,  there  isn't  anything  we  can  do  about 
it,  is  there  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  know  as  there  is,"  replied  Harold, 
slowly. 

But  he  thought  over  what  his  uncle  had  told  hiu, 
and  it  made  him  very  bitter.  He  brooded  over  it 
till  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  it  were  a  great  outrage. 
He  felt  that  he  was  treated  with  the  greatest  in- 
justice. He  was  incensed  with  his  aunt,  but  still 
more  so  with  Luke  Walton,  whom  he  looked  upon 
as  an  artful  adventurer. 

It  was  while  he  was  cherishing  these  feelings 
that  a  great  temptation  came  to  him.  He  found, 
one  day  in  the  street,  a  bunch  of  keys  of  various 
sizes  attached  to  a  small  steel  ring.  He  picked  it 
up,  and  quick  as  a  flash  there  came  to  him  the 
thought  of  the  drawer  in  his  aunt's  work  table,  from 
which  he  had  seen  her  take  out  the  morocco  pocket- 
book.  He  had  observed  that  the  ten-dollar  bill  she 


LUKE   WALTON  183 

gave  him  was  only  one  out  of  a  large  roll,  and  his 
cupidity  was  aroused.  He  rapidly  concocted  a 
scheme  by  which  he  would  be  enabled  to  provide 
himself  with  money,  and  throw  suspicion  upon, 
Luke. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 
HAROLD'S  THEFT 

The  next  morning,  Mrs.  Merton,  escorted  by 
Luke,  went  to  make  some  purchases  in  the  city. 
Mrs.  Tracy  went  out,  also,  having  an  engagement 
with  one  of  her  friends  -living  on  Cottage  Grove 
Avenue.  Harold  went  out  directly  after  break- 
fast, but  returned  at  half-past  ten.  He  went  up- 
stairs and  satisfied  himself  that,  except  the  servants, 
he  was  alone  in  the  house. 

"  The  coast  is  clear,"  he  said,  joyfully.  "  Now, 
if  the'  key  only  fits." 

He  went  to  his  aunt's  sitting  room,  and,  not  an- 
ticipating any  interruption,  directed  his  steps  at 
once  to  the  small  table,  from  a  drawer  in  which  he 
had  seen  Mrs.  Merton  take  the  morocco  pocket- 
book.  He  tried  one  key  after  another,  and  finally 
succeeded  in  opening  the  drawer.  He  drew  it  out 
with  nervous  anxiety,  fearing  that  the  pocketbook 
might  have  been  removed,  in  which  case  all  his  work 
would  have  been  thrown  away. 

But  no!  Fortune  favored  him  this  time,  if  it  can 
be  called  a  favor.  There,  in  plain  sight,  was  the 
morocco  pocketbook.  Harold,  pale  with  excite- 

184 


LUKE    WALTON  185 

ment,  seized  and  opened  it.  His  eyes  glistened  as 
he  saw  that  it  was  well  filled.  He  took  out  the  roll 
of  bills,  and  counted  them.  There  were  five  ten- 
dollar  bills  and  three  fives — sixty-five  dollars  in  all. 
There  would  have  been  more,  but  Mrs.  Merton,  be- 
fore going  out,  had  taken  four  fives,  which  she  in- 
tended to  use. 

It  was  Harold's  first  theft,  and  he  trembled  with 
agitation  as  he  thrust  the  pocketbook  into  his  pocket. 
He  would  have  trembled  still  more  if  he  had  known 
that  his  mother's  confidential  maid  and  seamstress, 
Felicie  Lacouvreur,  had  seen  everything  through 
the  crevice  formed  by  the  half-open  door. 

Felicie  smiled  to  herself  as  she  moved  noiselessly 
away  from  her  post  of  concealment. 

"  Master  Harold  is  trying  a  dangerous  experi- 
ment," she  said  to  herself.  "  Now  he  is  in  my 
power.  He  has  been  insolent  to  me  more  than 
once,  as  if,  forsooth,  he  were  made  of  superior  clay, 
but  Felicie,  though  only  a  poor  servant,  is  not,  thank 
Heaven,  a  thief,  as  he  is.  It  is  a  very  interesting 
drama.  I  shall  wait  patiently  till  it  is  quite  played 
out" 

In  his  hurry,  Harold  came  near  leaving  the  room 
with  the  table  drawer  open.  Bu£  he  bethought 
himself  in  time,  went  back,  and  locked  it  securely. 
It  was  like  shutting  the  stable  door  after  the  horse 
was  stolen.  Then,  with  the  stolen  money  in  his 
possession,  he  left  the  house.  He  did  not  wish  to  be 
found  at  home  when  his  aunt  returned. 


i86  LUKE   WALTON 

Harold  had  sixty-five  dollars  in  his  pocket — an 
amount  quite  beyond  what  he  had  ever  before  had 
at  his  disposal — but  it  must  be  admitted  that  he 
did  not  feel  as  happy  as  he  had  expected.  If  he 
had  come  by  it  honestly ;  if,  for  instance,  it  had  been 
given  him,  his  heart  would  have  beat  high  with 
exultation,  but  as  it  was,  he  walked  along  with 
clouded  brow.  Presently  he  ran  across  one  of  his 
friends,  who  noticed  his  discomposure. 

"  What's  the  matter,  Harold  ?  "  he  asked.  "  You 
are  in  the  dumps." 

"  Oh,  no,"  answered  Harold,  forcing  himself  to 
assume  a  more  cheerful  aspect.  "  I  have  no  rea- 
son to  feel  blue." 

"  You  are  only  acting,  then  ?  I  must  congratu- 
late you  on  your  success.  You  look  for  all  the 
world  like  the  knight  of  the  sorrowful  counte- 
nance." 

"  Who  is  he  ?  "  asked  Harold,  who  was  not  lit- 
erary. 

"  Don  Quixote.     Did  you  never  hear  of  him  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Then  your  education  has  been  neglected.  What 
are  you  going  to  do  to-day  ?  "  '.. 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  Suppose  we  visit  a  dime  museum  ?  " 

"  All  right." 

"  That  is,  if  you  have  any  money.  I  am  high 
and  dry." 

"  Yes,  I  have  some  money." 


LUKE   WALTON  187 

They  went  to  a  dime  museum  on  Clark  Street. 

Harold  surprised  his  companion  by  paying  for  the 
two  tickets  out  of  a  five-dollar  bill. 

"  You're  flush,  Harold,"  said  his  friend.  "  Has 
anybody  left  you  a  fortune?  " 

"  No,"  answered  Harold,  uneasily.  "  I've  been 
saving  up  money  lately." 

"  You  have  ?  Why,  I've  heard  of  your  being  at 
theaters,  playing  billiards,  and  so  on." 

"  Look  here,  Robert  Greve,  I  don't  see  why  you 
need  trouble  yourself  so  much  about  where  I  get 
my  money." 

"  Don't  be  cranky,  Harold,"  said  Robert,  good- 
humoredly,  "  I  won't  say  another  word.  Only  I 
am  glad  to  find  my  friends  in  a  healthy  financial 
condition.  I  only  wish  I  could  say  the  same  of 
myself." 

There  happened  to  be  a  matinee  at  the  Grand 
Opera  House,  and  Harold  proposed  going.  First, 
however,  they  took  a  nice  lunch  at  Brockway  & 
Milan's,  a  mammoth  restaurant  on  Clark  Street, 
Harold  paying  the  bill. 

As  they  came  out  of  the  theater,  Luke  Walton 
chanced  to  pass. 

"  Good-afternoon,  Harold,"  he  said. 

Harold  tossed  his  head,  but  did  not  reply. 

"  Who  is  that  boy — one  of  your  acquaintances  ?  " 
asked  Robert  Greve. 

"  He  works  for  my  aunt,"  answered  Harold.  "  It 
is  like  his  impudence  to  speak  to  me." 


i88  LUKE    WALTON 

"  Why  shouldn't  he  speak  to  you,  if  you  know 
him?"  said  Robert  Greve,  who  did  not  share  Har- 
old's foolish  pride. 

"  He  appears  to  think  he  is  my  equal,"  continued 
Harold. 
•    "  He  seems  a  nice  boy." 

"  You  don't  know  him  as  I  do.  He  is  a  common 
newsboy." 

"  Suppose  he  is;  that  doesn't  hurt  him,  does  it?  " 

"  You  don't  know  what  I  mean.  You  don't  think 
a  common  newsboy  fit  to  associate  with  on  equal 
terms,  do  you  ?  " 

Robert  Greve  laughed. 

"  You  are  too  high-toned,  Harold,"  he  said.  n  If 
he  is  a  nice  boy,  I  don't  care  what  sort  of  business 
a  friend  of  mine  follows." 

"  Well,  I  do,"  snapped  Harold,  "  and  so  does  my 
mother.  I  don't  believe  in  being  friends  with  the 
ragtag  and  bobtail  of  society." 

Luke  Walton  did  not  allow  his  feelings  to  be 
hurt  by  the  decided  rebuff  he  had  received  from 
Harold. 

"  I  owe  it  to  myself  to  act  like  a  gentleman,"  he 
reflected.  "  If  Harold  doesn't  choose  to  be  polite, 
it  is  his  lookout,  not  mine.  He  looks  down  upon 
me  because  I  am  a  working  boy.  I  don't  mean 
always  to  be  a  newsboy  or  an  errand  boy.  I  shall 
work  my  way  upwards  as  fast  as  I  can,  and,  in  time, 
I  may  come  to  fill  a  good  place  in  society." 

It  will  be  seen  that  Luke  was  ambitious.     He 


LUKE   WALTON  189 

looked  above  and  beyond  the  present,  and  deter- 
mined to  improve  his  social  condition. 

It  was  six  o'clock  when  Harold  ascended  the  steps 
of  the  mansion  on  Prairie  Avenue.  He  had  de- 
voted the  day  to  amusement,  but  had  derived  very 
little  pleasure  from  the  money  he  had  expended. 
He  had  very  little  left  of  the  five-dollar  bill  which  he 
had  first  changed  at  the  dime  museum.  It  was 
not  easy  to  say  where  his  money  had  gone,  but  it 
had  melted  away,  in  one  shape  or  another. 

"  I  wonder  whether  Aunt  Eliza  has  discovered 
her  loss,"  thought  Harold.  "  I  hope  I  shan't  show 
any  signs  of  nervousness  when  I  meet  her.  I  don't 
see  how  she  can  possibly  suspect  me.  If  anything 
is  said  about  the  lost  pocketbook,  I  will  try  to  throw 
suspicion  on  Luke  Walton." 

Harold  did  not  stop  to  think  how  mean  this  would 
be.  Self-preservation,  it  has  been  said,  is  the  first 
law  of  nature,  and  self-preservation  required  that 
he  should  avert  suspicion  from  himself  by  any 
means  in  his  power.  He  went  into  the  house 
whistling,  as  if  to  show  that  his  mind  was  quite  free 
from  care. 

In  the  hall  he  met  Felicie. 

"  What  do  you  think  has  happened,  Master  Har- 
old ?  "  asked  the  French  maid. 

"  I  don't  know,  I'm  sure." 

"  Your  aunt  has  been  robbed.  Some  money  has 
been  taken  from  her  room." 


CHAPTER  XXX 

LUKE  WALTON  IS  SUSPECTED  OF  THEFT 

Harold  was  prepared  for  the  announcement, 
as  he  felt  confident  his  aunt  would  soon  discover 
her  loss,  but  he  felt  a  little  nervous,  nevertheless. 

"You  don't  mean  it!"  he  ejaculated,  in  well- 
counterfeited  surprise. 

"  It's  a  fact." 

"  When  did  Aunt  Eliza  discover  her  loss,  Feli- 
cie?" 

"  As  soon  as  she  got  home.  She  went  to  her 
drawer  to  put  back  some  money  she  had  on  hand, 
and  found  the  pocketbook  gone." 

"  Was  there  much  money  in  it  ?  " 

"  She  doesn't  say  how  much." 

"  Well,"  said  Harold,  thinking  it  time  to  carry 
on  the  programme  he  had  determined  upon,  "  I  can't 
say  I  am  surprised." 

"  You  are  not  surprised ! "  repeated  Felicie, 
slowly.  "  Why  ?  Do  you  know  anything  about 
it?'" 

"  Do  I  know  anything  about  it  ?  "  said  Harold, 
coloring.  "  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  " 

"  Because  you  say  you  are  not  surprised.  I  was 
190 


LUKE   WALTON  191 

surprised,  and  so  was  the  old  lady  and  your 
mother." 

"  You  must  be  very  stupid,  not  to  .understand 
what  I  mean,"  said  Harold,  annoyed. 

"  Then  I  am  very  stupid,  for  I  do  not  know  at 
all  why  you  are  not  surprised." 

"  I  mean  that  the  boy  Aunt  Eliza  employs — that 
boy  Luke — has  taken  the  money." 

"  Oh,  you  think  'the  boy,  Luke,  has  taken  the 
money." 

"Certainly!  Why  shouldn't  he?  He  is  a  poor 
newsboy.  It  would  be  a  great  temptation  to  him. 
You  know  he  is  always  shown  into  Aunt  Eliza's 
sitting  room,  and  is  often  there  alone." 

"  That  is  true." 

"  And,  of  course,  nothing  is  more  natural  than 
that  he  should  take  the  money." 

"  But  the  drawer  was  locked." 

"  He  had  some  keys  in  his  pocket,  very  likely. 
Most  boys  have  keys." 

"  Oh,  most  boys  have  keys.  Have  you,  perhaps, 
keys,  Master  Harold  ?  " 

"  It  seems  to  me  you  are  asking  very  foolish 
questions,  Felicie.  I  have  the  key  of  my  trunk." 

"  But  do  newsboys  have  trunks  ?  Why  should 
this  boy,  Luke,  have  keys  ?  I  do  not  see." 

"  Well,  I'll  go  upstairs,"  said  Harold,  who  was 
getting  tired  of  the  interview,  and  rather  uneasy  at 
Felicie's  remarks  and  questions. 

As  Felicie  had  said,  Mrs.  Merton  discovered  her 


192  LUKE   WALTON 

loss  almost  as  soon  as  she  came  home.  She  had 
used  but  a  small  part  of  the  money  she  took  with 
her,  and,  not  caring  to  carry  it  about  with  her, 
opened  the  drawer  to  replace  it  in  the  pocket- 
book. 

To  her  surprise  the  pocketbook  had  disappeared. 

Now,  the  contents  of  the  pocketbook,  though  a 
very  respectable  sum,  were  not  sufficient  to  put  Mrs. 
Merton  to  any  inconvenience.  Still,  no  one  likes 
to  lose  money,  especially  if  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  it  has  been  stolen,  and  Mrs.  Merton  felt  an- 
noyed. She  drew  out  the  drawer  to  its  full  extent, 
and  examined  it  carefully  in  every  part,  but  there 
was  no  trace  of  the  morocco  pocketbook. 

She  locked  the  door  and  went  downstairs  to  her 
niece. 

"What's  the  matter,  Aunt  Eliza?"  asked  Mrs. 
Tracy,  seeing,  at  a  glance,  from  her  aunt's  expres- 
sion, that  something  had  happened. 

"  There  is  a  thief  in  the  house !  "  said  the  old 
lady,  abruptly. 

"What!" 

"  There  is  a  thief  in  the  house !  " 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  You  remember  my  small  work  table  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  keeping  a  supply  of 
money  in  a  pocketbook  in  one  of  the  drawers.  I 
just  opened  the  drawer,  and  the  money  is  gone !  " 

"  Was  therd  much  money  in  the  pocketbook  ?  " 


LUKE    WALTON  193 

"  I  happen  to  know  just  how  much.  There  were 
sixty-five  dollars." 

"  And  you  can  find  nothing  of  the  pocketbook?" 

"  No ;  that  and  the  money  are  both  gone." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  your  loss,  Aunt  Eliza." 

"  I  don't  care  for  the  money.  I  shall  not  miss  it 
I  am  amply  provided  with  funds,  thanks  to  Provi- 
dence. But  it  is  the  mystery  that  puzzles  me.  Who 
can  have  robbed  me  ?  " 

Mrs.  Tracy  nodded  her  head  significantly. 

"  I  don't  think  there  need  be  any  mystery  about 
that,"  she  said,  pointedly. 

"Why  not?" 

"  I  can  guess  who  robbed  you." 

"  Then  I  should  be  glad  to  have  you  enlighten 
me,  for  I  am  quite  at  a  loss  to  fix  upon  the  thief." 

"  It's  that  boy  of  yours.  I  haven't  a  doubt  of 
it." 

"  You  mean  Luke  Walton  ?  " 

"  Yes,  the  newsboy,  whom  you  have  so  impru- 
dently trusted." 

"  What  are  your  reasons  for  thinking  he  is  a 
thief?"  asked  the  old  lady,  calmly. 

"  He  is  often  alone  in  the  room  where  the  work 
table  stands,  is  he  not  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  he  waits  for  me  there." 

"  What  could  be  easier  than  for  him  to  open  the 
drawer  and  abstract  the  pocketbook  ?  " 

"  It  would  be  possible,  but  he  would  have  to  un- 
lock the  drawer." 


194  LUKE    WALTON 

"  Probably  he  took  an  impression  of  the  lock 
some  day,  and  had  a  key  made." 

"  You  are  giving  him  credit  for  an  unusual 
amount  of  cunning." 

"  I  always  supposed  he  was  sly." 

"  I  am  aware,  Louisa,  that  you  never  liked  the 
boy." 

"  I  admit  that.  What  has  happened  seems  to 
show  that  I  was  right." 

"  Now  you  are  jumping  to  conclusions.  You 
decide,  without  any  proof,  or  even  investigation, 
that  Luke  took  the  money." 

"  I  feel  convinced  of  it." 

"  It  appears  to  me  that  you  are  not  treating  the 
boy  fairly." 

"  My  instinct  tells  me  that  it  is  he  who  has  robbed 
you." 

"  Instinct  would  have  no  weight  in  law." 

"  If  he  didn't  take  it,  who  did  ?  "  asked  Mrs. 
Tracy,  triumphantly. 

"  That  question  is  not  easy  to  answer,  Louisa." 

"  I  am  glad  you  admit  so  much,  Aunt  Eliza." 

"  I  admit  nothing ;  but  I  will  think  over  the  mat- 
ter carefully,  and  investigate." 

"  Do  so,  Aunt  Eliza !  In  the  end  you  will  agree 
with  me." 

"  In  the  meanwhile,  Louisa,  there  is  one  thing  I 
must  insist  upon." 

"What  is  that?" 

"  That  you  leave  the  matter  wholly  in  my  hands." 


LUKE   WALTON  195 

"  Certainly,  if  you  wish  it." 

"  There  are  some  circumstances  connected  with 
the  robbery  which  I  have  not  mentioned." 

"  What  are  they  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Tracy,  her  face 
expressing  curiosity. 

"  I  shall  keep  them  to  myself  for  the  present" 

Mrs.  Tracy  looked  disappointed. 

"If  you  mention  them  to  me,  I  may  think  of 
something  that  would  help  you." 

"If  I  need  help  in  that  way,  I  will  come  to 
you." 

"  Meanwhile,  shall  you  continue  to  employ  the 
boy?" 

"Yes;  why  not?" 

"  He  might  steal  something  more." 

"  I  will  risk  it." 

Mrs.  Merton  returned  to  her  room,  and  presently 
Harold  entered  his  mother's  presence. 

"  What  is  this  I  hear  about  Aunt  Eliza  having 
some  money  stolen?"  he  asked. 

"  It  is  true.    She  has  lost  sixty-five  dollars." 

"  Felicie  told  me  something  about  it — that  it  was 
taken  out  of  her  drawer." 

Mrs.  Tracy  went  into  particulars,  unconscious 
that  her  son  was  better  informed  than  herself. 

"  Does  aunt  suspect  anyone  ? "  asked  Harold, 
uneasily. 

"  She  doesn't,  but  I  do." 

"Who  is  it?" 

"  That  boy,  Luke  Walton." 


196  LUKE   WALTON 

"  The  very  one  I  thought  of,"  said  Harold, 
eagerly.  "Did  you  mention  him  to  Aunt  Eliza?" 

"  Yes ;  but  she  is  so  infatuated  with  him  that  she 
didn't  take  the  suggestion  kindly.  She  has  prom- 
ised to  investigate,  however,  and  meanwhile  doesn't 
want  us  to  interfere." 

"  Things  are  working  round  as  I  want  them," 
thought  Harold. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

WHO   STOLE   THE    MONEY? 

Did  Mrs.  Merton  suspect  anyone  of  the  theft? 
This  is  the  question  which  will  naturally  suggest 
itself  to  the  reader. 

No  thought  of  the  real  thief  entered  her  mind. 
Though  she  was  fully  sensible  of  Harold's  faults, 
though  she  knew  him  to  be  selfish,  bad-tempered, 
and  envious,  she  did  not  suppose  him  capable  of 
theft.  The  one  who  occurred  to  her  as  most  likely 
to  have  robbed  her  was  her  recently  returned 
nephew,  Warner  Powell,  who  had  been  compelled  to 
leave  Chicago  years  before  on  account  of  having 
yielded  to  a  similar  temptation.  She  knew  that 
he  was  hard  up  for  money,  and  it  was  possible  that 
he  had  opened  the  table  drawer  and  abstracted  the 
pocketbook.  As  to  Luke  Walton,  she  was  not  at 
all  affected  by  the  insinuations  of  her  niece.  She 
knew  that  Mrs.  Tracy  and  Harold  had  a  prejudice 
against  Luke,  and  that  this  would  make  them  ready 
to  believe  anything  against  him. 

She  was  curious,  however,  to  hear  what  Warner 
had  to  say  about  the  robbery.  Would  he,  too, 
try  to  throw  suspicion  upon  Luke  in  order  to  screen 

J97 


198  LUKE    WALTON 

himself,  if  he  were  the  real  thief?  This  remained 
to  be  proved. 

Warner  Powell  did  not  return  to  the  house  till 
five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  His  sister  and  Har- 
old hastened  to  inform  him  of  what  had  happened, 
and  to  communicate  their  conviction  that  Luke 
was  the  thief.  Warner  said  little,  but  his  own  sus- 
picions were  different.  He  went  upstairs,  and  made 
his  aunt  a  call. 

"  Well,  aunt,"  he  said,  "  I  hear  you  have  been 
robbed." 

"  Yes,  Warner,  I  have  lost  some  money,"  an- 
swered the  old  lady,  composedly. 

"  Louisa  told  me." 

"  Yes ;  she  suspects  Luke  of  being  the  thief.  Do 
you  agree  with  her  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't,"  answered  Warner. 

Mrs.  Merton's  face  brightened,  and  she  looked 
kindly  at  Warner. 

"  Then  you  don't  share  Louisa's  prejudice  against 
Luke  ?  "  she  said. 

"  No ;  I  like  the  boy.  I  would  sooner  suspect 
myself  of  stealing  the  money,  for,  you  know,  Aunt 
Eliza,  that  my  record  is  not  a  good  one,  and  I  am 
sure  Luke  is  an  honest  boy." 

Mrs.  Merton's  face  fairly  beamed  with  delight. 
She  understood  very  well  the  low  and  unworthy 
motives  which  influenced  her  niece  and  Harold,  and 
it  was  a  gratifying  surprise  to  find  that  her  nephew 
was  free  from  envy  and  jealousy. 


LUKE    WALTON  199 

"  Warner,"  she  said,  "  what  you  say  does  you 
credit.  In  this  particular  case  I  know  that  Luke  is 
innocent." 

"You  don't  know  the  real  thief?"  asked  War- 
ner. 

"  No ;  but  my  reason  for  knowing  that  Luke  is 
innocent  I  will  tell  you.  The  money  was  safe  in 
my  drawer  when  I  went  out  this  morning.  It  was 
taken  during  my  absence  from  the  house.  Luke 
was  with  me  during  this  whole  time.  Of  course,  it 
is  impossible  that  he  should  be  the  thief,  there- 
fore." 

"  I  see.     Did  you  tell  Louisa  this?  " 

"  No ;  I  am  biding  my  time.  Besides,  I  am  more 
likely  to  find  the  real  thief  if  it  is  supposed  that 
Luke  is  under  suspicion." 

"  Tell  me,  truly,  Aunt  Eliza,  didn't  you  suspect 
me?" 

"  Since  you  ask  me,  Warner,  I  will  tell  you 
frankly  that  it  occurred  to  me  as  possible  that  you 
might  have  yielded  to  temptation." 

"  It  would  have  been  a  temptation,  for  I  have 
but  twenty-five  cents  in  my  pocket.  But  even  if  I 
had  known  where  you  kept  your  money  (which  I 
didn't),  I  would  have  risked  applying  to  you  for  a 
loan,  or  gift,  as  it  would  have  turned  out  to  be, 
rather  than  fall  back  into  my  old  disreputable 
ways." 

"  I  am  very  much  encouraged  by  what  you  say, 
Warner.  Here  are  ten  dollars.  Use  it  judiciously; 


200  ,         LUKE   WALTON 

try  to  obtain  employment,  and  when  it  is  gone,  you 
may  let  me  know." 

"  Aunt  Eliza,  you  are  kinder  to  me  than  I  deserve. 
I  will  make  a  real  effort  to  secure  employment,  and 
will  not  abuse  your  confidence." 

"  Keep  that  promise,  Warner,  and  I  will  be  your 
friend.  One  thing  more :  don't  tell  Louisa  what  has 
passed  between  us.  I  can,  at  any  time,  clear  Luke, 
but  for  the  present  I  will  let  her  think  I  am  uncer- 
tain on  thak  point.  I  shall  not  forget  that  you  took 
the  boy's  part  where  your  sister  condemned  him." 

-"  Louisa  and  Harold  can  see  no  good  in  the  boy; 
but  I  have  observed  him  carefully,  and  formed  my 
own  opinion." 

Warner  could  have  done  nothing  better  calculated 
to  win  his  aunt's  favor  than  to  express  a  favorable 
opinion  of  Luke.  It  must  be  said,  however,  in  jus- 
tice to  him,  that  this  had  not  entered  into  his  calcu- 
lations. He  really  felt  kindly  towards  the  boy  whom 
his  sister  denounced  as  "  sly  and  artful,"  and  liked 
him  much  better  than  his  own  nephew,  Harold,  who, 
looking  upon  Warner  as  a  poor  relation,  had  not 
thought  it  necessary  to  treat  him  with  much  respect 
or  attention.  He  had  a  better  heart  and  a  better 
disposition  than  Mrs.  Tracy  or  Harold,  notwith- 
standing his  early  shortcomings. 

"  Who  could  have  been  the  thief?  "  Warner  asked 
himself,  as  he  left  his  aunt's  sitting  room.  "  Could 
it  have  been  Harold  ?  " 

He  resolved  to  watch  his  nephew  carefully  and 


LUKE   WALTON  201 

seek  some  clew  that  would  lead  to  a  solution  of  the 
mystery. 

"  I  hope  it  isn't  my  nephew,"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  I  don't  want  him  to  follow  in  the  steps  of  his 
scapegrace  uncle.  But  I  would  sooner  suspect  him 
than  Luke  Walton.  They  say  blood  is  thicker  than 
water,  but  I  confess  that  I  like  the  newsboy  better 
than  I  do  my  high-toned  nephew." 

"  Have  you  made  any  discovery  of  the  theft, 
Aunt  Eliza  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Tracy,  as  her  aunt  seated 
herself  at  the  evening  repast. 

"  Nothing  positive,"  answered  the  old  lady,  sig- 
nificantly. 

"  Have  you  discovered  anything  at  all  ?  " 

"  I  have  discovered  who  is  not  the  thief,"  said 
Mrs.  Merton. 

"  Then  you  had  suspicions  ?  " 

"  No  definite  suspicions." 

"  Wouldn't  it  be  well  to  talk  the  matter  freely  over 
with  me?  Something  might  be  suggested." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Louisa,  but  I  think  it  would 
be  well  to  banish  this  disagreeable  matter  from  our 
table  talk.  If  I  should  stand  in  need  of  advice,  I 
will  consult  you." 

"  I  don't  want  to  obtrude  my  advice,  but  I  will 
venture  to  suggest  that  you  call  in  a  private  de- 
tective." 

Harold  looked  alarmed. 

"  I  wouldn't  bother  with  a  detective,"  he  said. 
"  They  don't  know  half  as  much  as  they  pretend." 


202  LUKE   WALTON 

"  I  am  inclined  to  agree  with  Harold,"  said  Mrs. 
Merton.  "  I  will  act  as  my  own  detective." 

Save  for  the  compliment  to  Harold,  Mrs.  Tracy 
was  not  pleased  with  this  speech  of  her  aunt. 

"  At  any  rate,"  she  said,  "  you  would  do  well  to 
keep  a  strict  watch  over  that  boy,  Luke  Walton." 

"  I  shall,"  answered  the  old  lady,  simply. 

Mrs.  Tracy  looked  triumphant.  It  was  clear,  she 
thought,  that  Mrs.  Merton  was  coming  to  her  view 
of  the  matter. 

Warner  kept  silent,  but  a  transient  smile  passed 
over  his  face  as  he  saw  how  neatly  Aunt  Eliza  had 
deceived  his  astute  sister. 

"  What  do  you  think,  Warner  ?  "  asked  Mrs. 
Tracy,  desirous  of  additional  support. 

"  I  think  Aunt  Eliza  will  get  at  the  truth  sooner 
or  later.  Of  course  I  will  do  anything  to  help  her, 
but  I  don't  want  to  interfere." 

"  Don't  you  think  she  ought  to  discharge  Luke?  " 

"If  she  did,  she  would  have  no  chance  of  finding 
out  whether  he  was  guilty  or  not." 

"  That  is  true.    I  did  not  think  of  that." 

"  Warner  is  more  sensible  than  any  of  you,"  said 
Mrs.  Merton. 

"  I  am  glad  you  have  changed  your  opinion  of 
him,"  said  Mrs.  Tracy,  sharply. 

She  was  now  beginning  to  be  jealous  of  her  scape- 
grace brother. 

"  So  am  I,"  said  Warner,  smiling.  "  At  the  same 
time,  I  don't  blame  aunt  for  her  former  opinion." 


LUKE   WALTON  203 

The  next  morning  Harold  was  about  leaving  the 
house,  when  Felicie,  the  French  maid,  came  up 
softly,  and  said :  "  Master  Harold,  may  I  have  a 
word  with  you  ?  " 

"  I  am  in  a  hurry,"  said  Harold,  impatiently. 

"  It  is  about  the  stolen  money,"  continued  Felicie, 
in  her  soft  voice.  "  You  had  better  listen  to  what  I 
have  to  say.  I  have  found  out  who  took  it." 

Harold's  heart  gave  a  sudden  thump,  and  his 
face  indicated  dismay. 


CHAPTER   XXXII 

HAROLD  AND   FELICIE    MAKE   AN    ARRANGEMENT 

"  You  have  found  out  who  took  the  money  ?  " 
stammered  Harold. 

"  Yes." 

"  I  didn't  think  it  would  be  found  out  so  soon," 
said  Harold,  trying  to  recover  his  equanimity.  "  Of 
course  it  was  taken  by  Luke  Walton." 

"  You  are  quite  mistaken,"  said  Felicie.  "  Luke 
Walton  did  not  take  it." 

Harold's  heart  gave  another  thump.  He  scented 
danger,  but  remained  silent. 

"  You  don't  ask  me  who  took  the  money  ?  "  said 
Felicie,  after  a  pause. 

"  Because  I  don't  believe  you  know,"  returned 
Harold.  "You've  probably  got  some  suspicion?" 

"  I  have  more  than  that.  The  person  who  took 
the  money  was  seen  at  his  work." 

Harold  turned  pale. 

"  There  is  no  use  in  mincing  matters,"  continued 
Felicie.  "  You  took  the  money  1 " 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  such  impertinence  ? " 
gasped  Harold. 

Ml 


LUKE   WALTON  205 

"  It  is  no  impertinence.  I?  you  doubt  my  knowl- 
edge, I'll  tell  you  the  particulars.  You  opened  the 
drawer  with  one  of  a  bunch  of  keys  which  you  took 
from  your  pocket,  took  out  a  morocco  pocketbook, 
opened  it,  and  counted  the  roll  of  bills  which  it  con- 
tained, then  put  the  pocketbook  into  your  pocket, 
locked  the  drawer  and  left  the  room." 

"  That's  a  fine  story,"  said  Harold,  forcing  him- 
self to  speak.  "  I  dare  say  all  this  happened,  only 
you  were  the  one  who  opened  the  drawer." 

"  I  saw  it  all  through  a  crack  in  the  half-open 
door,"  continued  Felicie,  not  taking  the  trouble  to 
answer  his  accusation.  "  If  you  want  further  proof, 
suppose  you  feel  in  your  pocket.  I  presume  the 
pocketbook  is  there  at  this  moment." 

Instinctively  Harold  put  his  hand  into  his  pocket, 
then  suddenly  withdrew  it,  as  if  his  fingers  were 
burned,  for  the  pocketbook  was  there  as  Felicie  had 
said. 

"  There  is  one  thing  more,"  said  Felicie,  as  she 
drew  from  her  pocket  a  bunch  of  keys.  "  I  found 
this  bunch  of  keys  in  your  room  this  morning." 

"  They  are  not  mine,"  answered  Harold,  hastily. 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  that.  They  are 
the  ones  you  had  in  your  hand  when  you  opened 
the  drawer.  I  think  this  is  the  key  you  used." 

"  The  keys  belong  to  you !  "  asserted  Harold,  des- 
perately. 

"  Thank  you  for  giving  them  to  me,  but  I  shall 
have  no  use  for  them,"  said  Felicie,  coolly.  "  And 


206  LUKE    WALTON 

now,  Master  Harold,  do  you  want  to  know  why  I 
have  told  you  this  little  story?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  Harold,  feebly. 

"  Because  I  think  it  will  be  for  our  mutual  ad- 
vantage to  come  to  an  understanding.  I  don't  want 
to  inform  your  aunt  of  what  I  have  seen  unless  you 
compel  me  to  do  so." 

"How  should  I  compel  you  to  do  so?"  stam- 
mered Harold,  uneasily. 

"  Step  into  the  parlor,  where  we  can  talk  com- 
fortably. Your  aunt  is  upstairs,  and  your  mother 
is  out,  so  that  no  one  will  hear  us." 

Harold  felt  that  he  was  in  the  power  of  the 
cunning  Felicie,  and  he  followed  her  unresistingly. 

"  Sit  down  on  the  sofa,  and  we  will  talk  at  our 
ease.  I  will  keep  silent  about  this  matter,  and  no 
one  else  knows  a  word  about  it,  if " 

"Well?" 

"  If  you  will  give  me  half  the  money." 

"  But,"  said  Harold,  who  now  gave  up  the  pre- 
tense of  denial,  "  I  have  spent  part  of  it." 

"  You  have  more  than  half  of  it  left?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Give  me  thirty  dollars  and  I  will  be  content.  I 
saw  you  count  it.  There  were  sixty-five  dollars." 

"  I  don't  see  what  claim  you  have  to  it,"  said 
Harold,  angrily. 

"  I  have  as  much  as  you,"  answered  Felicie, 
coolly.  "  Still,  if  you  prefer  to  go  to  your  aunt,  own 
up  that  you  took  it,  and  take  the  consequences,  I 


LUKE   WALTON  207 

will  agree  not  to  interfere.  But  if  I  am  to  keep  the 
secret,  I  want  to  be  paid  for  it." 

Harold  thought  it  over;  he  hated  to  give  up  so 
large  a  part  of  his  plunder,  for  he  had  appropriated 
it  in  his  own  mind  to  certain  articles  which  he 
wished  to  purchase. 

"  I'll  give  you  twenty  dollars,"  he  said. 

"  No,  I  will  take  thirty  dollars,  or  go  to  your 
aunt  and  tell  her  all  I  know." 

There  was  no  help  for  it.  Poor  Harold  took  out 
three  ten-dollar  bills,  reluctantly  enough,  and  gave 
them  to  Felicie. 

"  All  right,  Master  Harold !  You've  done  wisely. 
I  thought  you  would  see  matters  in  the  right  light. 
Think  how  shocked  your  mother  and  Aunt  Eliza 
would  be  if  they  had  discovered  that  you  were  the 
thief." 

"  Don't  use  such  language,  Felicie !  "  said  Harold, 
wincing.  "  There  is  no  need  to  refer  to  it  again." 

"  As  you  say,  Master  Harold.  I  won't  detain 
you  any  longer  from  your  walk,"  and  Felicie,  with 
a  smile,  rose  from  the  sofa  and  left  the  room,  Harold 
following. 

"  Don't  disturb  yourself  any  more,"  she  said,  as 
she  opened  the  door  for  Harold.  "  It  will  never  be 
known.  Besides,  your  aunt  can  well  afford  to  lose 
this  little  sum.  She  is  actually  rolling  in  wealth. 
She  ought  to  be  more  liberal  to  you." 

"  So  she  ought,  Felicie.  If  she  had,  this  would 
not  have  happened." 


*o8  LUKE   WALTON 

"  Very  true.  At  the  same  time,  I  don't  suppose 
a  jury  would  accept  this  as  an  excuse." 

"  Why  do  you  say  such  things,  Felicie  ?  What 
has  a  jury  got  to  do  with  me?  " 

"  Nothing,  I  hope.  Still,  if  it  were  a  poor  boy 
that  had  taken  the  money,  Luke  Walton,  for  in- 
stance, he  might  have  been  arrested.  Excuse  me,  I 
see  this  annoys  you.  Let  me  give  you  one  piece  of 
advice,  Master  Harold." 

"What  is  it?" 

"  Get  rid  of  that  morocco  pocketbook  as  soon  as 
you  can.  If  it  were  found  on  you,  or  you  should  be 
careless,  and  leave  it  anywhere,  you  would  give 
yourself  away,  my  friend." 

"  You  are  right,  Felicie,"  said  Harold,  hurriedly. 
"  Good-morning !  " 

"  Good-morning,  and  a  pleasant  walk,  my  friend," 
said  Felicie,  mockingly. 

When  Harold  was  fairly  out  in  the  street,  he 
groaned  in  spirit.  He  had  lost  half  the  fruits  of 
his  theft,  and  his  secret  had  become  known.  Felicie 
had  proved  too  much  for  him,  and  he  felt  that  he 
hated  her. 

"  I  wish  I  could  get  mother  to  discharge  her, 
without  her  knowing  that  it  was  I  who  had  brought 
it  about.  I  shall  not  feel  safe  as  long  as  she  is  in 
the  house.  Why  didn't  I  have  the  sense  to  shut  and 
lock  the  door  ?  Then  she  wouldn't  have  seen  me." 

Then  the  thought  of  the  morocco  pocketbook 
occurred  to  him.  He  felt  that  Felicie  was  right — 


LUKE   WALTON  209 

that  it  was  imprudent  to  carry  it  around.  He  must 
get  rid  of  it  in  some  way. 

He  took  the  money  out  and  put  it  in  another 
pocket.  The  pocketbook  he  replaced  till  he  should 
have  an  opportunity  of  disposing  of  it. 

Hardly  had  he  made  these  preparations  when  he 
met  Luke  Walton,  who  had  started  unusually  early, 
and  was  walking  towards  the  house.  An  idea  came 
to  Harold. 

"  Good-morning,  Luke !  "  he  said,  in  an  unusually 
friendly  tone. 

"  Good-morning,  Harold ! "  answered  Luke,  agree- 
ably surprised  by  the  other's  cordiality. 

"  Are  you  going  out  with  Aunt  Eliza  this  morn- 
ing?" 

"  I  am  not  sure  whether  she  will  want  to  go  out. 
I  shall  call  and  inquire." 

"  You  seem  to  be  quite  a  favorite  of  hers." 

"  I  hope  I  am.     She  always  treats  me  kindly." 

"  I  really  believe  she  thinks  more  of  you  than  she 
idoes  of  me." 

"  You  mustn't  think  that,"  said  Luke,  modestly. 
"  You  are  a  relation,  and  I  am  only  in  her  employ." 

"  Oh,  it  doesn't  trouble  me.  I  am  bound  for  the 
city.  I  think  I  shall  take  the  next  car — good-day !  " 

"  Good-day,  Harold !  " 

Luke  walked  on,  quite  unconscious  that  Harold, 
as  he  passed  by  his  side,  had  managed  to  slip  the 
morocco  wallet  into  the  pocket  of  his  sack  coat. 


CHAPTER   XXXIII 
HAROLD'S  PLOT  FAILS 

Luke  wore  a  sack  coat  with  side  pockets.  It  was 
this  circumstance  that  had  made  it  easy  for  Harold 
to  transfer  the  wallet  unsuspected  to  his  pocket. 

Quite  ignorant  of  what  had  taken  place,  Luke 
kept  on  his  way  to  Mrs.  Merton's  house.  He  rang 
the  bell,  and  on  being  admitted,  went  up,  as  usual, 
to  the  room  of  his  patroness. 

"  Good-morning,  Luke,"  said  Mrs.  Merton,  pleas- 
antly. 

"  Good-morning,"  responded  Luke. 

"  I  don't  think  I  shall  go  out  this  morning,  and 
I  don't  think  of  any  commission,  so  you  will  have  a 
vacation." 

"  I  am  afraid  I  am  not  earning  my  money,  Mrs. 
Merton.  You  make  it  very  easy  for  me." 

"  At  any  rate,  Luke,  the  money  is  cheerfully 
given,  and  I  have  no  doubt  you  find  it  useful.  How 
are  you  getting  along  ?  " 

"Very  well,  indeed!  I  have  just  made  the  last 
payment  on  mother's  machine,  and  now  we  owe 
nothing,  except,  perhaps,  for  the  rent,  and  only  a 
week  has  gone  by  on  the  new  month." 


LUKE   WALTON  211 

"  You  seem  to  be  a  good  manager,  Luke.  You 
succeed  in  keeping  your  money,  while  I  have  not 
always  found  it  easy.  Yesterday,  for  instance,  I 
lost  sixty-five  dollars." 

"How  was  that?"  inquired  Luke,  with  interest. 

"  The  drawer  in  which  I  keep  a  pocketbook  was 
unlocked,  and  this,  with  its  contents,  was  stolen." 

"  Don't  you  suspect  anyone  ?  " 

"  I  did,  but  he  has  cleared  himself,  in  my  opinion. 
It  is  possible  it  was  one  of  the  servants." 

At  this  moment  Luke  pulled  the  handkerchief 
from  his  side  pocket,  and  with  it  came  the  morocco 
pocketbook,  which  fell  on  the  carpet. 

Mrs.  Merton  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise. 

"  Why,  that  is  the  very  pocketbook !  "  she  said. 

Luke  stooped  and  picked  it  up,  with  an  expres- 
sion of  bewilderment  on  his  face. 

"  I  don't  understand  it,"  he  said.  "  I  never  saw 
that  pocketbook  before  in  my  life." 

"  Please  hand  it  to  me." 

Luke  did  so. 

"  Yes,  that  is  the  identical  pocketbook,"  said  the 
old  lady. 

"  And  it  came  from  my  pocket  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Is  there  any  money  in  it,  Mrs.  Merton  ?  " 

Mrs.  Merton  opened  it,  and  shook  her  head. 

"  That  has  been  taken  out,"  she  answered. 

"  I  hope  you  won't  think  I  took  the  money,"  said 
Luke,  with  a  troubled  look. 


212  LUKE   WALTON 

"  I  know  you  did  not.  It  was  taken  while  we 
were  out  together  yesterday.  The  last  thing  before 
I  left  the  house  I  locked  the  drawer,  and  the  pocket- 
book  with  the  money  inside  was  there.  When  I 
returned  it  was  gone." 

"  That  is  very  mysterious.  I  don't  understand 
how  the  pocketbook  came  in  my  pocket." 

"  Someone  must  have  put  it  there  who  wished 
you  to  be  suspected  of  the  theft." 

"  Yes,"  said  Luke,  eagerly.    "  I  see." 

Then  he  stopped  suddenly,  for  what  he  was  about 
to  say  would  throw  suspicion  upon  Harold. 

"  Well,  go  on !  " 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  ought  to  speak.  It  might 
throw  suspicion  on  an  innocent  person." 

"Speak!  it  is  due  to  me.  I  will  judge  on  that 
point.  Who  has  had  the  chance  of  putting  the 
wallet  into  your  pocket  ?  " 

"  I  will  speak  if  you  insist  upon  it,  Mrs.  Merton," 
said  Luke,  reluctantly.  "  A  few  minutes  since  I 
met  Harold  on  the  street.  We  were  bound  in  oppo- 
site directions.  He  surprised  me  by  stopping  me, 
and  addressing  me  quite  cordially.  We  stood  talk- 
ing together  two  or  three  minutes." 

"  Did  he  have  an  opportunity  of  putting  the  wallet 
in  your  pocket  ?  " 

"  He  might  have  done  so,  but  I  was  not  conscious 
of  it." 

"  Let  me  think ! "  said  the  old  lady,  slowly. 
"  Harold  knew  where  I  kept  my  money,  for  I  opened 


LUKE    WALTON  213 

the  drawer  in  his  presence  the  other  day,  and  he 
saw  me  take  a  bill  from  the  pocketbook.  I  did  not 
think  him  capable  of  robbing  me." 

"  Perhaps  he  did  not,"  said  Luke.  "  It  may  be 
explained  in  some  other  way." 

"Can  you  think  of  any  other  way?"  asked  the 
old  lady. 

"  Suppose  a  servant  had  taken  the  money,  and 
left  the  pocketbook  somewhere  where  Harold  found 
it " 

"  Even  in  that  case,  why  should  he  put  it  in  your 
pocket  ? " 

"  He  does  not  like  me.  He  might  wish  to  throw 
suspicion  upon  me." 

"  That  would  be  very  mean." 

"  I  think  it  would,  but  still  he  might  not  be  a 
thief." 

"  I  would  sooner  excuse  a  thief.  It  is  certainly 
disreputable  to  steal,  but  it  is  not  necessarily  mean 
or  contemptible.  Trying  to  throw  suspicion  on  an 
innocent  person  would  be  both." 

Luke  remained  silent,  for  nothing  occurred  to 
him  to  say.  He  did  not  wish  to  add  to  Mrs.  Mer- 
ton's  resentment  against  Harold. 

After  a  moment's  thought  the  old  lady  continued : 
"  Leave  the  pocketbook  with  me,  and  say  nothing 
about  what  has  happened-  till  I  give  you  leave." 

"Very  well." 

Mrs.  Merton  took  the  pocketbook,  replaced  it  in 
the  drawer,  and  carefully  locked  it. 


2i4  LUKE    WALTON 

"  Someone  must  have  a  key  that  will  open  this 
drawer,"  she  said.  "  I  should  like  to  know  who 
it  is." 

"  Do  you  think  anyone  will  open  it  again?  "  asked 
Luke. 

"No;  it  will  be  supposed  that  I  will  no  longer 
keep  money  there.  I  think,  however,  I  will  sooner 
or  later  find  out  who  opened  it." 

"  I  hope  it  won't  prove  to  be  Harold." 

"  I  hope  so,  too.  I  would  not  like  to  think  so 
near  a  relative  a  thief.  Well,  Luke,  I  won't  detain 
you  here  any  longer.  You  may  come  to-morrow, 
as  usual." 

"  It  is  lucky  Mrs.  Merton  has  confidence  in  me," 
thought  Luke.  "  Otherwise  she  might  have  sup- 
posed me  to  be  the  thief.  What  a  mean  fellow 
Harold  Tracy  is,  to  try  to  have  an  innocent  boy 
suspected  of  such  a  crime." 

As  he  was  going  out  of  the  front  door,  Mrs.  Tracy 
entered. 

She  cast  a  withering  glance  at  Luke. 

"Have  you  seen  my  aunt  this  morning?"  she 
asked. 

"Yes,  madam." 

"  I  wonder  you  had  the  face  to  stand  in  her  pres- 
ence." 

It  must  be  said,  in  justification  of  Mrs.  Tracy, 
that  she  really  believed  that  Luke  had  stolen  Mrs. 
Merton's  money. 

"  I  know  of  no  reason  why  I  should  not,"  said 


LUKE   WALTON  215 

Luke,  calmly.  "  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  ex- 
plain what  you  mean  ?  " 

"  You  know  well  enough,"  retorted  Mrs.  Tracy, 
nodding  her  head  venomously. 

"  Mrs.  Merton  appears  to  be  well  satisfied  with 
me,"  said  Luke,  quietly.  "  When  she  is  not,  she 
will  tell  me  so,  and  I  shall  never  come  again." 

"  You  are  the  most  brazen  boy  I  know  of.  Why 
it  is  that  my  aunt  is  so  infatuated  with  you,  I  can't, 
for  my  part,  pretend  to  understand." 

"  If  you  will  allow  me,  I  will  bid  you  good-morn- 
ing," said  Luke,  with  quiet  dignity. 

Mrs.  Tracy  did  not  reply,  and  Luke  left  the  house. 

"  If  I  ever  hated  and  despise.d  a  boy,  it  is  that 
one !  "  said  Mrs.  Tracy  to  herself,  as  she  went  up- 
stairs to  remove  her  street  dress.  "  I  wish  I  could 
strip  the  mask  from  him,  and  get  aunt  to  see  him  in 
his  real  character.  He  is  a  sly,  artful  young  ad- 
venturer. Ah,  Felicie,  come  and  assist  me.  By  the 
way,  I  want  you  to  watch  that  boy  who  has  just 
gone  out." 

"Luke  Walton?" 

"Yes;  of  course  you  have  heard  of  my  aunt's 
loss.  I  suspect  that  this  Luke  Walton  is  the  thief." 

"  Is  it  possible,  madam  ?  Have  you  any  evi- 
dence?" 

"  No,  but  we  may  find  some.  What  do  you 
think?" 

"  I  haven't  thought  much  about  the  matter.  It 
seems  to  me  very  mysterious." 


ai6  LUKE   WALTON 

When  Felicie  left  the  presence  of  her  mistress, 
she  smiled  curiously. 

"  What  would  Madam  Tracy  say  if  she  knew  it 
was  her  own  son  ?  "  she  soliloquized.  "  He  is  a 
young  cur,  but  she  thinks  him  an  angel !  " 


CHAPTER    XXXIV 

HAROLD    MAKES   A   PURCHASE 

Harold  had  been  compelled  to  give  up  half  his 
money,  but  he  still  had  thirty  dollars  left.  How 
should  he  invest  it?  That  was  the  problem  that 
occupied  his  thoughts.  Thus  far  he  had  not  derived 
so  'much  satisfaction  from  the  possession  of  the 
money  as  he  had  anticipated.  One  thing,  at  any 
rate,  he  resolved.  He  would  not  spend  it  upon 
others,  but  wholly  upon  himself. 

He  stepped  into  a  billiard  saloon  to  enjoy  his 
favorite  pastime.  In  the  absence  of  any  companion 
he  played  a  game  with  a  man  employed  in  the  estab- 
lishment, and,  naturally,  got  beaten,  though  he  was 
given  odds.  At  the  end  of  an  hour  he  owed  sixty 
cents,  and  decided  not  to  continue. 

"  You  play  too  well  for  me,"  he  said,  in  a  tone  of 
disappointment. 

"  You  had  bad  luck,"  answered  his  opponent, 
soothingly.  "  However,  I  can  more  than  make  it 
up  to  you." 

"  How  ?  "  inquired  Harold,  becoming  interested. 

"  A  friend  of  mine  has  pawned  his  watch  for  fif- 
teen dollars.  It  is  a  valuable  gold  watch — cost  sev« 


2i8  LUKE   WALTON 

enty-five.  He  could  have  got  more  on  it,  but  ex- 
pected to  redeem  it.  He  has  been  in  bad  luck,  and 
finds  it  no  use.  He  has  put  the  ticket  in  my  hands, 
and  is  willing  to  sell  it  for  ten  dollars.  That  will 
only  make  the  watch  cost  twenty-five.  It's  a  big 
bargain  for  somebody." 

Harold  was  much  interested.  He  had  always 
wanted  a  gold  watch,  and  had  dropped  more  than 
one  hint  to  that  effect  within  the  hearing  of  Aunt 
Eliza,  but  the  old  lady  had  always  said :  "  When 
you  are  eighteen,  it  will  be  time  enough  to  think  of 
a  gold  watch.  Till  then,  your  silver  watch  will  do." 

Harold  took  a  different  view  of  the  matter,  and 
his  desire  for  a  gold  watch  had  greatly  increased 
since  a  school  friend  about  his  own  age  had  become 
the  owner  of  one.  For  this  reason  he  was  consider- 
ably excited  by  the  chance  that  seemed  to  present 
itself. 

"  You  are  sure  the  watch  is  a  valuable  one  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"  Yes ;  I  have  seen  it  myself." 

"  Then,  why  don't  you  buy  the  ticket  yourself?" 

"  I  haven't  the  money.  If  I  had,  I  wouldn't  let 
anybody  else  have  it." 

"  Let  me  see  the  ticket." 

The  other  produced  it  from  his  vest  pocket,  but, 
of  course,  this  threw  no  light  upon  the  quality  of 
the  watch. 

"  I  can  secure  the  watch,  and  have  nearly  five 
dollars  left,"  thought  Harold.  "  It  is  surely  worth 


LUKE   WALTON  219 

double  the  price  it  will  cost  me,  and  then  I  shall  have 
something  to  show  for  my  money." 

On  the  other  hand,  his  possession  of  the  watch 
would  excite  surprise  at  home,  and  he  would  be 
called  upon  to  explain  how  he  obtained  it.  This, 
however,  did  not  trouble  Harold.  He  was  sure  he 
could  make  up  a  story  that  would  avert  suspicion. 

"  I've  a  great  mind  to  take  it,"  he  said,  slowly. 

"  You  can't  do  any  better.  To  tell  the  truth,  I 
hate  to  let  it  go,  but  I  don't  see  any  prospect  of  my 
being  able  to  get  it  out  myself,  and  my  friend  needs 
the  money." 

Harold  hesitated  a  moment,  then  yielded  to  the 
inducement  offered. 

"  Give  me  the  ticket,"  he  said.  "  Here  is  the 
money." 

As  he  spoke,  he  produced  a  ten-dollar  bill.  In 
return,  the  ticket  was  handed  to  him. 

The  pawnbroker,  whose  name  he  found  on  the 
ticket,  was  located  less  than  fifteen  minutes'  walk 
from  the  billiard  saloon.  Harold,  eager  to  secure 
the  watch,  went  directly  there.  Over  the  doorway 
were  displayed  the  customary  three  golden  balls. 

Entering  with  some  nervousness,  for  he  had  never 
before  been  in  an  establishment  of  this  kind,  Harold 
advanced  to  the  counter,  behind  which  he  saw 
shelves  loaded  with  articles  in  great  variety. 

"  Well,  young  man,  what  can  I  do  for  you  ? " 
asked  a  small  man,  with  wrinkled  face  and  blinking 
eyes. 


220  LUKE   WALTON 

"  I  want  to  redeem  my  watch.    Here  is  the  ticket." 

The  old  man  glanced  at  the  ticket,  then  went  to  a 
safe,  and  took  out  the  watch.  Here  were  kept  the 
articles  of  small  bulk  and  large  value. 

Harold  took  out  fifteen  dollars  which  he  had  put 
in  his  vest  pocket  for  the  purpose,  and  tendered 
them  to  the  pawnbroker. 

"  I  want  a  dollar  and  a  half  more,"  said  the  old 
man. 

"  What  for  ?  "  asked  Harold,  in  surprise. 

"  One  month's  interest.  You  don't  think  I  do 
business  for  nothing,  do  you  ?  " 

"  Isn't  that  high  ?  "  asked  Harold,  and  not  with- 
out reason. 

"  It's  our  regular  charge,  young  man.  Ten  per 
cent,  a  month — that's  what  we  all  charge." 

This  statement  was  correct.  Though  the  New 
York  pawnbroker  is  allowed  to  charge  but  three 
per  cent,  a  month,  his  Chicago  associate  charges 
more  than  three  times  as  much. 

There  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  comply  with  the 
terms  demanded,  and  Harold  reluctantly  handed 
out  the  extra  sum. 

"  You  ought  to  have  a  watch  chain,  my  friend," 
said  the  pawnbroker. 

"  I  should  like  one,  but  I  cannot  afford  it." 

"  I  can  give  you  a  superior  article — rolled  gold—- 
for a  dollar.  It  is  just  the  amount  I  loaned  on  it, 
but  I  have  had  it  for  over  a  year,  and  the  owner  will 
never  come  after  it." 


LUKE   WALTON  221 

"  Let  me  see  it !  " 

The  chain  was  displayed.  It  looked  very  well; 
and  certainly  set  off  the  watch  to  better  advantage. 

Harold  paid  down  the  dollar,  and  went  out  of  the 
pawnbroker's  with  a  gold  watch,  and  chain  of  the 
same  color,  with  only  two  dollars  left  of  his  ill- 
gotten  money.  This  was  somewhat  inconvenient, 
but  he  rejoiced  in  the  possession  of  the  watch  and 
chain. 

"  Now  Ralph  Kennedy  can't  crow  over  me,"  he 
soliloquized.  "  I've  got  a  gold  watch  as  well  as  he." 

As  he  left  the  pawnbroker's,  he  did  not  observe 
a  familiar  face  and  figure  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  street.  It  was  Warner  Powell,  his  mother's 
brother,  who  recognized,  with  no  little  surprise,  his 
nephew,  coming  from  such  a  place. 

"  What  on  earth  has  carried  Harold  to  a  pawn- 
broker's ? "  he  asked  himself. 

Then  he  caught  sight  of  the  watch  chain,  and  got 
a  view  of  the  watchj  as  Harold  drew  it  out  osten- 
tatiously to  view  his  new  acquisition. 

"  There's  some  mystery  \ here,"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  I  must  investigate." 

He  waited  till  Harold  was  at  a  safe  distance,  then 
crossed  the  street,  and  entered  the  pawnbroker's. 

"  There  was  a  boy  just  went  out  of  here,"  he  said 
to  the  old  man. 

"  Suppose  there  was,"  returned  the  pawnbroker, 
suspiciously. 

"  What  was  he  doing  here?" 


222 

"  Is  that  any  of  your  business?  " 

"  My  friend,  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  you,  and 
no  complaint  to  make  against  you,  but  the  boy  is 
my  nephew,  and  I  want  to  know  whether  he  got  a 
watch  and  chain  here." 

"  Yes ;  he  presented  a  ticket,  and  I  gave  him  the 
watch." 

"  Is  it  one  he  pawned  himself?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  He  had  the  ticket.  I  can't  re- 
member everybody  that  deals  with  me." 

"  Can  you  tell  me  how  much  the  watch  and  chain 
were  pawned  for  ?  " 

"  The  watch  was  pawned  for  fifteen  dollars.  I 
sold  him  the  chain  for  a  dollar." 

"All  right!     Thank  you." 

"It's  all  right?" 

"  Yes,  so  far  as  you  are  concerned.  How  long 
had  the  watch  been  in  ?  " 

"  For  three  weeks." 

"Thank  you." 

Warner  Powell  left  the  shop,  after  obtaining  all 
the  information  he  required. 

"  It  is  Harold  who  robbed  Aunt  Eliza,"  he  said 
to  himself.  "  He  has  done  a  very  imprudent  thing 
in  securing  this  watch.  I  wonder  what  explanation 
he  will  have  to  give  when  he  is  asked  about  it  at 
home.  I  begin  to  think  my  precious  nephew  is  a 
rogue." 

Meanwhile,  Harold,  eager  to  ascertain  the  value 
of  his  watch,  stepped  into  a  jeweler's. 


LUKE   WALTON  223 

"  Can  you  tell  me  the  value  of  this  watch  ?  "  he 
inquired. 

The  jeweler  opened  it,  and  after  a  brief  examina- 
tion, said :  "  When  new  it  probably  cost  thirty-five 
dollars." 

Harold's  countenance  fell. 

"  I  was  told  that  it  was  a  seventy-five-dollar 
watch,"  he  said. 

"  Then  you  were  cheated." 

"  But  how  can  such  a  large  watch  be  afforded  for 
thirty-five  dollars  ?  " 

"  It  is  low-grade  gold,  not  over  ten  carats,  and 
the  works  are  cheap.  Yet,  it'll  keep  fair  time." 

Harold  was  very  much  disappointed.  He  had  not 
made  much  of  a  bargain,  after  all. 


CHAPTER   XXXV 

A    SKILLFUL    INVENTION 

When  he  came  to  think  it  over,  Harold  gradually 
recovered  his  complacence.  It  was  a  gold  watch, 
after  all,  and  no  one  would  know  that  the  gold  was 
low  grade.  He  met  one  or  two  acquaintances,  who 
immediately  took  notice  of  the  chain  and  asked  to 
see  the  watch.  They  complimented  him  on  it,  and 
this  gave  him  satisfaction. 

When  he  reached  home,  he  went  directly  upstairs 
to  his  room,  and  only  came  down  when  he  heard 
the  supper  bell. 

As  he  entered  the  dining  room  his  mother  was  the 
first  to  notice  the  watch  chain. 

"  Have  you  been  buying  a  watch  chain,  Harold?  " 
she  asked. 

"  I  have  something  besides,"  said  Harold,  and 
he  produced  the  watch. 

Mrs.  Tracy  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise, 
and  Mrs.  Merton  and  Warner  exchanged  significant 
glances. 

"  How  came  you  by  the  watch  and  chain  ?  "  asked 
Mrs.  Tracy,  uneasily. 

"  They  were  given  to  me,"  answered  Harold. 
224 


LUKE   WALTON  225 

"  But  that  is  very  strange.  Aunt  Eliza,  you  have 
not  given  Harold  a  watch,  have  you  ?  " 

"  No,  Louisa.  I  think  a  silver  watch  is  good 
enough  for  a  boy  of  his  age." 

"  Why  don't  you  ask  me,  Louisa  ?  "  said  Warner, 
smiling. 

"  I  don't  imagine  your  circumstances  will  admit 
of  such  a  gift." 

"  You  are  right.  I  wish  they  did.  Harold,  we 
are  all  anxious  to  know  the  name  of  the  benevolent 
individual  who  has  made  you  such  a  handsome  pres- 
ent. If  you  think  he  has  any  more  to  spare,  I  should 
be  glad  if  you  would  introduce  me." 

"  I  will  explain,"  said  Harold,  glibly.  "  I  was 
walking  along  Dearborn  Street  about  two  o'clock, 
when  I  saw  a  gentleman  a  little  in  advance  of  me. 
He  had  come  from  the  Commercial  Bank,  I  judge, 
for  it  was  not  far  from  there  I  came  across 
him.  By  some  carelessness  he  twitched  a  wallet 
stuffed  with  notes  from  his  pocket.  A  rough-look- 
ing fellow  sprang  to  get  it,  but  I  was  too  quick  for 
him.  I  picked  it  up,  and  hurrying  forward,  handed 
it  to  the  gentleman.  He  seemed  surprised  and 
pleased. 

'  My  boy,'  he  said,  '  you  have  done  me  a  great 
service.  That  wallet  contained  fifteen  hundred  dol- 
lars. I  should  have  lost  it  but  for  you.  Accept 
this  watch  and  chain  as  a  mark  of  my  deep  grati- 
tude.' 

"  With  that,  he  took  the  watch  from  his  pocket, 


226  LUKE   WALTON 

and  handed  it  to  me.  I  was  not  sure  whether  I 
ought  to  take  it,  but  I  have  long  wanted  a  gold 
watch,  and  he  seemed  well  able  to  afford  the  gift, 
so  I  took  it." 

Mrs.  Tracy  never  thought  of  doubting  this  plausi- 
ble story. 

"  Harold,"  she  said,  "  I  am  proud  of  you.  I  think 
there  was  no  objection  to  accepting  the  watch. 
What  do  you  say,  Aunt  Eliza  ?  " 

"  Let  me  look  at  the  watch,  Harold,"  said  the  old 
lady,  not  replying  to  her  niece's  question. 

Harold  passed  it  over  complacently.  He  rather 
plumed  himself  on  the  ingenious  story  he  had  in- 
vented. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  it,  Warner?  "  asked  Mrs. 
Merton,  passing  it  to  her  nephew. 

"  It  is  rather  a  cheap  watch  for  a  rich  man  to 
carry,"  answered  Warner,  taking  it  in  his  hand  and 
opening  it. 

"  I  am  sure  it  is  quite  a  handsome  watch,"  said 
Mrs.  Tracy. 

"  Yes,  it  is  large  and  showy,  but  it  is  low-grade 
gold." 

"  Of  course,  I  don't  know  anything  about  that," 
said  Harold.  "  At  any  rate,  it  is  gold  and  good 
enough  for  me." 

"  No  doubt  of  that,"  said  the  old  lady,  dryly. 

"  Rich  men  don't  always  carry  expensive 
watches,"  said  Mrs.  Tracy.  "  They  are  often  plain 
in  their  tastes." 


LUKE   WALTON  227 

"  This  watch  is  rather  showy,"  said  Warner.  "  It 
can't  be  called  plain." 

"  At  any  rate,  Harold  has  reason  to  be  satisfied. 
I  am  glad  he  obtained  the  watch  in  so  creditable  a 
manner.  If  it  had  been  your  protege,  Aunt  Eliza,  I 
suspect  he  would  have  kept  the  money." 

"  I  don't  think  so,  Louisa,"  said  Mrs.  Merton, 
quietly.  "  I  have  perfect  confidence  in  Luke's  hon- 
esty." 

"  In  spite  of  your  lost  pocketbook?  " 

"  Yes ;  there  is  nothing  to  connect  Luke  with 
that." 

Harold  thought  he  ought  to  get  the  advantage  of 
the  trick  played  upon  Luke  in  the  morning. 

"  I  don't  know  as  I  ought  to  say  anything,"  he 
said,  hesitating,  "  but  I  met  Luke  this  morning,  and 
if  I  am  not  very  much  mistaken,  I  saw  in  his  pocket 
a  wallet  that  looked  very  much  like  auat's.  You 
know  he  wears  a  sack  coat,  and  has  a  pocket  on  each 
side." 

Again  Mrs.  Merton  and  Warner  exchanged 
glances. 

"  This  is  important !  "  said  Mrs.  Tracy,  in  excite- 
ment. "Did  you  speak  to  him  on  the  subject?" 

"  No." 

"Why  not?" 

"  I  thought  he  might  be  innocent,  and  I  didn't 
want  to  bring  a  false  charge  against  him." 

"  You  are  very  considerate,"  said  Mrs.  Merton. 

It  was  impossible  to  infer  anything  from  her  tone. 


LUKE   WALTON 

"  That  seems  quite  conclusive,  Aunt  Eliza,"  said 
Mrs.  Tracy,  triumphantly.  "  I  am  sure  Warner 
will  agree  with  me." 

"  As  to  that,  Louisa,"  said  her  brother,  "  Harold 
is  not  certain  it  was  aunt's  lost  pocketbook." 

"  But  he  thinks  it  was." 

"  Yes,  I  think  it  was " 

"  For  my  owri  part,  I  have  no  doubt  on  the  sub- 
ject," said  Mrs.  Tracy,  in  a  positive  tone.  "  He  is 
the  person  most  likely  to  take  the  money,  and  this 
makes  less  proof  needful." 

"  But,  suppose,  after  all,  he  is  innocent,"  sug- 
gested Warner. 

"  You  seem  to  take  the  boy's  side,  Warner.  I  am 
surprised  at  you." 

"  I  want  him  to  have  a  fair  chance,  that  is  all. 
I  must  say  that  I  have  been  favorably  impressed  by 
what  I  have  seen  of  the  boy." 

"  At  any  rate,  I  think  Aunt  Eliza  ought  to  ques- 
tion him  sternly,  not  accepting  any  evasion  or  equiv- 
ocation. He  has  been  guilty  of  base  ingratitude." 

"  Supposing  him  to  be  guilty  ?  " 

"  Yes,  of  course." 

"  I  intend  to  investigate  the  matter,"  said  the  old 
lady.  "  What  do  you  think,  Harold  ?  Do  you  think 
it  probable  that  Luke  opened  my  drawer,  and  took 
out  the  pocketbook  ?  " 

"  It  looks  very  much  like  it,"  said  Harold. 

"  Certainly  it  does,"  said  Mrs.  Tracy,  with  em- 
phasis. 


LUKE   WALTON  229 

"  Suppose  we  drop  the  conversation  for  the  time 
being,"  suggested  the  old  lady.  "  Harold  has  not 
wholly  gratified  our  curiosity  as  to  the  watch  and 
chain.  Do  you  know,  Harold,  who  the  gentleman 
is  to  whom  you  rendered  such  an  important 
service  ?  " 

"  No,  Aunt  Eliza,  I  did  not  learn  his  name." 

"What  was  his  appearance?    Describe  him." 

"  He  was  a  tall  man,"  answered  Harold,  in  a  tone 
of  hesitation. 

"  Was  he  an  old  or  a  young  man  ?  " 

"  He  was  an  old  man  with  gray  hair.  He  walked 
very  erect." 

"  Should  you  know  him  again,  if  you  saw  him?  " 

"  Yes,  I  think  so." 

"  Then,  perhaps,  we  may  have  an  opportunity  of 
ascertaining  who  he  was.  My  broker  will  probably 
know  him  from  your  description." 

"  Why  do  you  want  to  find  out  who  he  is  ?  "  asked 
Harold,  uneasily.  "  Don't  you  think  I  ought  to  keep 
the  watch  ?  " 

"  I  have  a  feeling  of  curiosity  on  the  subject.  As 
to  keeping  it,  I  don't  think  the  gentleman  will  be 
likely  to  reclaim  it." 

"  Of  course  not.  Why  should  he  ?  "  said  Mrs. 
Tracy.  "  He  gave  it  freely,  and  it  would  be  very 
strange  if  he  wished  it  back." 

Here  the  conversation  dropped,  much  to  Harold's 
relief.  Warner  accompanied  his  aunt  from  the 
room. 


23o  LUKE   WALTON 

"  What  do  you  think  of  Harold's  story,  Warner?  " 
asked  the  old  lady. 

"  It  is  very  ingenious." 

"But  not  true?" 

"  No;  he  got  the  watch  and  chain  from  a  pawn- 
broker. I  saw  him  come  out  of  the  shop,  and  going 
in,  questioned  the  pawnbroker.  He  must  have  got 
the  ticket  somewhere." 

"  Then  it  seems  that  Harold  is  not  only  a  thief, 
but  a  liar." 

"  My  dear  aunt,  let  us  not  be  too  hard  upon  him. 
This  is  probably  his  first  offense.  I  feel  like  being 
charitable,  for  I  have  been  in  the  same  scrape." 

"  I  can  overlook  theft  more  easily  than  his  attempt 
to  blacken  the  reputation  of  Luke,"  said  Mrs.  Mer- 
ton,  sternly. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI 

WARNER   POWELL  STARTS   ON   A   JOURNEY 

Thanks  to  the  liberal  compensation  received  from 
Mrs.  Merton,  Luke  was  enabled  to  supply  his 
mother  and  Bennie  with  all  the  comforts  they  re- 
quired, and  even  to  put  by  two  dollars  a  week.  This 
he  did  as  a  measure  of  precaution,  for  he  did  not 
know  how  long  the  engagement  at  the  house  on 
Prairie  Avenue  would  last.  If  he  were  forced  to 
fall  back  on  his  earnings  as  a  newsboy,  the  family 
would  fare  badly.  This  might  happen,  for  he  found 
himself  no  nearer  securing  the  favor  of  Harold  and 
his  mother.  The  manner  of  the  latter  was  particu- 
larly unpleasant  when  they  met,  and  Harold  scarcely 
deigned  to  speak  to  him.  On  the  other  hand,  War- 
ner Powell  showed  himself  very  friendly.  He  often 
took  the  opportunity  to  join  Luke  when  he  was 
leaving  the  house,  and  chat  pleasantly  with  him. 
Luke  enjoyed  his  companionship,  because  Warner 
was  able  to  tell  him  about  Australia  and  California, 
with  both  of  which  countries  Mrs.  Tracy's  brother 
was  familiar. 

"  Mother,"  said  Harold,  one  day,  "  Uncle  War- 
ner seems  very  thick  with  that  newsboy.  I  have 
several  times  seen  them  walking  together." 


232  LUKE   WALTON 

Mrs.  Tracy  frowned,  for  the  news  displeased  her. 

"  I  am  certainly  very  much  surprised.  I  should 
think  my  brother  might  find  a  more  congenial  and 
suitable  companion  than  Aunt  Eliza's  hired  boy.  I 
will  speak  to  him  about  it." 

She  accordingly  broached  the  subject  to  Warner 
Powell,  expressing  herself  with  emphasis. 

"  Listen,  Louisa,"  said  Warner,  "  don't  you  think 
I  am  old  enough  to  choose  my  own  company  ?  " 

"  It  doesn't  seem  so,"  retorted  Mrs.  Tracy,  with 
a  smile. 

"  At  any  rate,  I  don't  need  any  instructions  on 
that  point." 

"  As  my  guest,  you  certainly  ought  to  treat  me 
with  respect." 

"  So  I  do.  But  I  don't  feel  bound  to  let  you  regu- 
late my  conduct." 

"  You  know  what  cause  I  have — we  both  have — 
to  dislike  this  boy." 

"  I  don't  dislike  him." 

"  Then  you  ought  to." 

"  He  is  in  Aunt  Eliza's  employment.  While  he 
remains  so,  I  shall  treat  him  with  cordiality." 

"  You  are  blind  as  a  mole !  "  said  Mrs.  Tracy, 
passionately.  "  You  can't  see  that  he  is  trying  to 
work  his  way  into  aunt's  affections." 

"  I  think  he  has  done  so  already.  She  thinks  a 
great  deal  of  him." 

"  When  you  find  her  remembering  him  in  her  will, 
you  may  come  over  to  my  opinion." 


LUKE   WALTON  233 

"  She  is  quite  at  liberty  to  remember  him  in  her 
will,  so  far  as  I  am  concerned.  There  will  be 
enough  for  us,  even  if  she  does  leave  Luke  a 
legacy." 

"  I  see  you  are  incorrigible.  I  am  sorry  I  invited 
you  to  remain  in  my  house." 

"  I  was  under  the  impression  that  it  was  Aunt 
Eliza's  house.  You  are  claiming  too  much,  Louisa." 

Mrs.  Tracy  bit  her  lip,  and  was  compelled  to  give 
up  her  attempt  to  secure  her  brother's  allegiance. 
She  contented  herself  with  treating  him  with  formal 
politeness,  abstaining  from  all  show  of  cordiality. 
This  was  carried  on  so  far  that  it  attracted  the 
attention  of  Mrs.  Merton. 

"  What  is  the  trouble  between  you  and  Louisa  ?  " 
she  asked  one  day. 

Warner  laughed. 

"  She  thinks  I  am  too  intimate  with  your  boy, 
Luke." 

"  I  don't  understand." 

"  I  often  walk  with  Luke  either  on  his  way  to  or 
from  the  house.  Harold  has  reported  this  to  his 
mother,  and  the  result  is  a  lecture  as  to  the  choice 
of  proper  companions  from  my  dignified  sister." 

Mrs.  Merton  smiled  kindly  on  her  nephew. 

"  Then  you  don't  propose  to  give  up  Luke?  "  she 
said. 

"  No ;  I  like  the  boy.  He  is  worth  a  dozen  Har- 
olds. Perhaps  I  ought  not  to  say  this,  for  Harold  is 
my  nephew  and  they  say  blood  is  thicker  than  water. 


«34  LUKE   WALTON 

However,  it  is  a  fact,  nevertheless,  that  I  like  Luke 
the  better  of  the  two." 

"  I  shall  not  blame  you  for  saying  that,  Warner," 
returned  the  old  lady.  "  I  am  glad  that  one  of  the 
family,  at  least,  is  free  from  prejudice.  To  what 
do  you  attribute  Louisa's  dislike  of  Luke  ?  " 

"  I  think,  aunt,  you  are  shrewd  enough  to  guess 
the  reason  without  appealing  to  me." 

"  Still,  I  would  like  to  hear  it  from  your  lips." 

"  In  plain  words,  then,  Louisa  is  afraid  you  will 
remember  Luke  in  your  will." 

"  She  doesn't  think  I  would  leave  everything  to 
him,  does  she  ?  " 

"  She  objects  to  your  leaving  anything.  If  it  were 
only  five  hundred  dollars  she  would  grudge  it." 

"  Louisa  was  always  selfish,"  said  Mrs.  Merton, 
quietly.  "  I  have  always  known  that.  She  is  not 
wise,  however.  She  does  not  understand  that  I  am 
a  very  obstinate  old  woman,  and  am  more  likely  to 
take  my  own  way  if  opposed." 

"  That's  right,  aunt !  You  are  entitled  to  have 
your  own  way,  and  I  for  one  am  the  last  to  wish  to 
interfere  with  you." 

"  You  will  not  fare  any  the  worse  for  that !  And 
now,  Warner,  tell  me  what  are  your  chances  of 
employment  ?  " 

"  I  wished  to  speak  to  you  about  that,  aunt. 
There  is  a  gentleman  in  Milwaukee  who  has  a 
branch  office  in  Chicago,  and  I  understand  that  he 
wants  someone  to  represent  him  here.  His  present 


LUKE   WALTON  235 

agent  is  about  to  resign  his  position,  and  I  think  I 
have  some  chance  of  obtaining  the  place.  It  will  be 
necessary  for  me,  however,  to  go  to  Milwaukee  to 
see  him  in  person." 

"  Go,  then,  by  all  means,"  said  Mrs.  Merton.  "  I 
will  defray  your  expenses." 

"  Thank  you  very  much,  aunt.  You  know  that  I 
have  little  money  of  my  own.  But  there  is  another 
thing  indispensable,  and  that  I  am  afraid  you  would 
not  be  willing  to  do  for  me." 

"What  is  it,  Warner?" 

"  I  shall  have  charge  of  considerable  money  be- 
longing to  my  employer,  and  I  learn  from  the  pres- 
ent agent  that  I  shall  have  to  get  someone  to  give 
bonds  for  me  in  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars." 

"  Very  well !  I  am  willing  to  stand  your 
security." 

Warner  looked  surprised  and  gratified. 

"  Knowing  how  dishonestly  I  have  acted  in  the 
past  ?  "  he  said. 

"  The  past  is  past.  You  are  a  different  man,  I 
hope  and  believe." 

"  Aunt  Eliza,  you  shall  never  regret  the  generous 
confidence  you  are  willing  to  repose  in  me.  It  is 
likely  to  open  for  me  a  new  career,  and  to  make  a 
new  man  of  me." 

"  That  is  my  desire,  Warner.  Let  me  add  that  I 
am  only  following  your  own  example.  You  have 
refused  to  believe  evil  of  Luke,  unlike  your  sister, 
and  have  not  been  troubled  by  the  kindness  I  have 


236  LUKE   WALTON 

shown  him.  This  is  something  I  remember  to  your 
credit." 

"  Thank  you,  aunt.  If  you  have  been  able  to  dis- 
cover anything  creditable  in  me,  I  am  all  the  more 
pleased." 

"  How  much  will  this  position  pay  you,  supposing 
you  get  it  ?  " 

"  Two  thousand  dollars  a  year.  To  me  that  will 
be  a  competence.  I  shall  be  able  to  save  one-half, 
for  I  have  given  up  my  former  expensive  tastes, 
and  am  eager  to  settle  down  to  a  steady  and 
methodical  business  life." 

"  When  do  you  want  to  go  to  Milwaukee,  War- 
ner?" 

"  I  should  like  to  go  at  once." 

"  Here  is  some  money  to  defray  your  expenses." 

Mrs.  Merton  opened  her  table  drawer,  and  took 
out  a  roll  of  bills  amounting  to  fifty  dollars. 

"  I  wish  you  good  luck !  "  she  said. 

"  Thank  you,  aunt !  I  shall  take  the  afternoon 
train  to  Milwaukee,  and  sleep  there  to-night." 

Warner  Powell  hastened  to  catch  the  train,  and, 
at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  landed,  with  a  large 
number  of  fellow  passengers,  in  the  metropolis  of 
.Wisconsin. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII 
THOMAS  BROWNING'S  SECRET 

Warner  Powell  had  learned  wisdom  and  prudence 
with  his  increasing  years,  and,  instead  of  inquiring 
for  the  best  hotel,  was  content  to  put  up  at  a  humbler 
hostelry,  where  he  would  be  comfortable.  He  made 
the  acquaintance  on  the  cars  of  a  New  York  drum- 
mer, with  whom  he  became  quite  sociable. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  been  in  Milwaukee  often," 
said  Warner. 

"  I  go  there  once  a  year — sometimes  twice." 

"  Where  do  you  stay  ?  " 

"  At  the  Prairie  Hotel.  It  is  a  comfortable  house 
— two  dollars  a  day." 

"  Just  what  I  want.    I  will  go  there." 

So,  at  quarter-past  six,  Warner  Powell  found 
himself  in  the  office  of  the  hotel.  He  was  assigned 
a  room  on  the  third  floor. 

After  making  his  toilet,  he  went  down  to  supper. 
At  the  table  with  him  were  two  gentlemen  who, 
from  their  conversation,  appeared  to  be  residents 
of  the  city.  They  were  discussing  the  coming 
municipal  election. 

"  I  tell  you,  Browning  will  be  our  mayor,"  said 
237 


238  LUKE   WALTON 

one.  "  His  reputation  as  a  philanthropist  will  elect 
him." 

"  I  never  took  much  stock  in  his  claims  on  that 
score." 

"  He  belongs  to  all  the  charitable  societies,  and  is 
generally  an  officer." 

"  That  may  be ;  but  how  much  does  he  give  him- 
self?" 

"  I  don't  know.  I  suppose  he  is  a  liberal  sub- 
scriber." 

"  He  wants  to  give  that  impression,  but  the  man 
is  as  selfish  as  the  average.  He  is  said  to  be  a  hard 
landlord,  and  his  tenants  get  very  few  favors." 

"  I  am  surprised  to  hear  that." 

"  He  is  trading  on  his  philanthropy.  It  would 
be  interesting  to  learn  where  his  wealth  came  from. 
I  should  not  be  surprised  if  he  were  more  smart 
than  honest." 

Warner  Powell  found  himself  getting  interested 
in  this  Browning.  Was  he  really  a  good  man,  who 
was  unjustly  criticised,  or  was  he  a  sham  philan- 
thropist, as  charged? 

"  After  all,  it  doesn't  concern  me,"  he  said  to  him- 
self. "  The  good  people  of  Milwaukee  may  choose 
whom  they  please  for  mayor  so  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned." 

After  supper  Warner  stepped  up  to  the  cigar 
stand  to  buy  a  cigar.  This,  as  the  reader  will  re- 
member, was  kept  by  Jack  King,  an  old  California 
acquaintance  of  Thomas  Browning,  whose  first  ap- 


LUKE    WALTON  239 

pearance  in  our  story  was  in  the  character  of  a 
tramp  and  would-be  burglar. 

"  Is  business  good  ?  "  asked  Warner,  pleasantly. 

"  It  is  fair ;  but  it  seems  slow  to  a  man  like  myself, 
who  has  made  a  hundred  dollars  a  day  at  the  mines 
in  California." 

"  I  have  been  in  California  myself,"  said  Powell, 
"  but  it  was  recently,  and  no  such  sums  were  to  be 
made  in  my  time." 

"  That  is  true.  It  didn't  last  with  me.  I  have 
noticed  that  even  in  the  flush  times  few  brought 
much  money  away  with  them,  no  matter  how  lucky 
they  were." 

"  There  must  be  some  exceptions,  however." 

"  There  were.  We  have  a  notable  example  in 
Milwaukee." 

"  To  whom  do  you  refer  ?  " 

"  To  Thomas  Browning,  the  man  who  is  up  for 
mayor." 

Jack  King  laughed. 

"  I've  heard  a  lot  of  tajk  about  that  man.  He's 
very  honest  and  very  worthy,  I  hear." 

"  They  call  him  so,"  he  answered. 

"  I  am  afraid  you  are  jealous  of  that  good  man," 
said  Warner,  smiling. 

"  I  may  be  jealous  of  his  success,  but  not  of  his 
reputation  or  his  moral  qualities." 

"  Then  you  don't  admire  him  as  much  as  the 
public  generally  ?  " 

"  No,  I  know  him  too  well." 


24o  LUKE    WALTON 

"  He  is  really  rich,  is  he  not  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  that  is,  he  is  worth,  perhaps,  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars." 

"  That  would  satisfy  me." 

"  Or  me.  But  I  doubt  whether  the  money  was 
creditably  gained." 

"  Do  you  know  anything  about  it  ?  Were  you  an 
acquaintance  of  his  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  can  remember  him  when  he  was  only  a 
rough  miner.  I  never  heard  that  he  was  very  lucky, 
but  he  managed  to  take  considerable  money  East 
with  him." 

Warner  eyed  Jack  King  attentively. 

"  You  suspect  something,"  he  said,  shrewdly. 

"  I  do.  There  was  one  of  our  acquaintances  who 
had  struck  it  rich,  and  accumulated  about  ten 
thousand  dollars.  Browning  was  thick  with  him, 
and  I  always  suspected  that  when  he  found  himself 
on  his  deathbed,  he  intrusted  all  his  savings  to 
Butler " 

"I  thought  you  were  speaking  of  Browning?" 

"  His  name  was  Butler  then.  He  has  changed 
it  since.  But,  as  I  was  saying,  I  think  he  intrusted 
his  money  to  Browning  to  take  home  to  his  family." 

"Well?" 

"  The  question  is,  did  Browning  fulfill  his  trust, 
or  keep  the  money  himself?  " 

"  That  would  come  out,  wouldn't  it  ?  The  family 
would  make  inquiries." 

"  They  did  not  know  that  the  dying  man  had 


LUKE    WALTON  241 

money.  He  kept  it  to  himself,  for  he  wanted  to  go 
home  and  give  them  an  agreeable  surprise.  Butler 
knew  this,  and,  I  think,  he  took  advantage  of  it." 

"  That  was  contemptible.  But  can't  it  be  ascer- 
tained ?  Is  it  known  where  the  family  lives  ?  What 
is  the  name  ?  " 

"  Walton." 

"  Walton !  "  repeated  Warner  Powell,  in  surprise. 

"  Yes ;  do  you  know  any  family  of  that  name  ?  " 

"  I  know  a  boy  in  Chicago  named  Luke  Walton. 
He  is  in  the  employ  of  my  aunt.  A  part  of  his  time 
he  spends  in  selling  papers." 

"  Mr.  Browning  told  me  that  Walton  only  left  a 
daughter,  and  that  the  family  had  gone  to  the  East- 
ern States." 

"  Would  he  be  likely  to  tell  you  the  truth — sup- 
posing he  had  really  kept  the  money  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  not.  What  more  can  you  tell  me  about 
this  boy?" 

Powell's  face  lighted  up. 

"  I  remember  now,  he  told  me  that  his  father  died 
in  California." 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  said  Jack  King,  excited.  "  I 
begin  to  think  I  am  on  the  right  track.  I  begin  to 
think,  too,  that  I  can  tell  where  Tom  Butler  got  his 
first  start." 

"  And  now  he  poses  as  a  philanthropist?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  is  nominated  for  mayor  ?  " 

"  Yes,  also." 


«4»  LUKE   WALTON 

"  How  are  your  relations  with  him  ?  " 

"  They  should  be  friendly,  for  he  and  I  were  com- 
rades in  earlier  days,  and  once  I  lent  him  money 
when  he  needed  it,  but  he  has  been  puffed  up  by  his 
prosperity,  and  takes  very  little  notice  of  me.  He 
had  to  do  something  for  me  when  I  first  came  to 
Milwaukee,  but  it  was  because  he  was  afraid  not  to." 

Meanwhile  Warner  Powell  was  searching  his 
memory.  Where  and  how  had  he  become  familiar 
with  the  name  of  Thomas  Browning?  At  last  it 
came  to  him. 

"  Eureka !  "  he  exclaimed,  in  excitement. 

"  What  does  that  mean  ?  I  don't  understand 
French." 

Warner  smiled. 

"  It  isn't  French,"  he  said ;  "  but  Greek,  all  the 
Greek  I  know.  It  means  '  I  have  discovered  ' — the 
mystery  of  your  old  acquaintance." 

"  Explain,  please !  "  said  Jack  King,  his  interest 
becoming  intense. 

"  I  have  a  friend  in  Chicago — Stephen  Webb,  a 
nephew  of  your  philanthropist — who  has  been  com- 
missioned by  his  uncle  to  find  out  all  he  can  about 
this  newsboy,  Luke  Walton.  He  was  speculating 
with  me  why  his  uncle  should  be  so  interested  in  an 
obscure  boy." 

"  Had  his  uncle  told  him  nothing?  " 

"  No,  except  that  he  dropped  a  hint  about  know- 
ing Luke's  father." 

"  This  Luke  and  his  family  are  poor,  you  say  ?  " 


LUKE   WALTON  243 

"  Yes,  you  can  judge  that  from  his  employment. 
He  is  an  honest,  manly  boy,  however,  and  I  have 
taken  a  fancy  to  him.  I  hope  it  will  turn  out  as  you 
say.  But  nothing  can  be  proved.  This  Browning 
will  probably  deny  that  he  received  money  in  trust 
from  the  dead  father." 

Jack  King's  countenance  fell. 

"  When  you  go  back  to  Chicago  talk  with  the  boy, 
and  find  out  whether  the  family  have  any  evidence 
that  will  support  their  claim.  Then  send  the  boy  on 
to  me,  and  we  will  see  what  can  be  done." 

"  I  accept  the  suggestion  with  pleasure.  But  I 
will  offer  an  amendment.  Let  us  write  the  boy  to 
come  on  at  once,  and  have  a  joint  consultation  in 
his  interest." 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII 

FELICIE    PROVES    TROUBLESOME 

We  must  return  to  Chicago  for  a  short  time  be- 
fore recording  the  incidents  of  Luke's  visit  to  Mil- 
waukee. 

Though  Harold  had  lost  nearly  half  of  his  money 
through  being  compelled  to  divide  with  Felicie,  he 
was,  upon  the  whole,  well  satisfied  with  the  way  in 
which  he  had  escaped  from  suspicion.  He  had  his 
gold  watch,  and,  as  far  as  he  knew,  the  story  which 
he  had  told  about  it  had  not  been  doubted.  But 
something  happened  that  annoyed  and  alarmed  him. 

One  day,  when  there  was  no  one  else  in  the  house 
except  the  servants,  Felicie  intercepted  him  as  he 
was  going  out. 

•  "  I  want  a  word  with  you,  Master  Harold,"  she 
said. 

"  I  am  in  a  hurry,  Felicie,"  replied  Harold,  who 
had  conceived  a  dislike  for  the  French  maid. 

"  Still  I  think  you  can  spare  me  a  few  minutes," 
went  on  Felicie,  smiling  in  an  unpleasant  manner. 

"  Well,  be  quick  about  it,"  said  Harold,  im- 
patiently. 

"  I  have  a  sister  who  is  very  sick.  She  is  a  widow] 
with  two  children,  and  her  means  are  very  small." 

244 


LUKE   WALTON  245 

"  Goodness,  Felicie !  What  is  all  this  to  me  ?  Of 
course,  I'm  sorry  for  her,  but  I  don't  know  her." 

"  She  looks  to  me  to  help  her,"  continued  Felicie. 

"  Well,  that's  all  right !  I  suppose  you  are  going 
to  help  her." 

"  There  is  the  trouble,  Master  Harold.  I  have 
no  money  on  hand." 

"  Well,  I'm  sure  that  is  unlucky,  but  why  do  you 
speak  to  me  about  it  ?  " 

"  Because,"  and  here  Felicie's  eyes  glistened,  "  I 
know  you  obtained  some  money  recently  from  your 
aunt." 

"  Hush !  "  said  Harold,  apprehensively. 

"  But  it's  true." 

"  And  it's  true  that  you  made  me  give  you  half 
of  it." 

"  It  all  went  to  my  poor  sister,"  said  Felicie, 
theatrically. 

"  I  don't  see  what  I  have  to  do  with  that,"  said 
Harold,  not  without  reason. 

"  So  that  I  kept  none  for  myself.  Now  I  am  sure 
you  will  open  your  heart,  and  give  me  five  dollars 
more." 

"  I  never  heard  such  cheek !  "  exclaimed  Harold, 
indignantly.  "  You've  got  half,  and  are  not  satis- 
fied with  that." 

"  But  think  of  my  poor  sister ! "  said  Felicie, 
putting  her  handkerchief  to  her  eyes,  in  which  there 
were  no  tears. 

"  Think  of  me !  "  exclaimed  Harold,  angrily. 


246  LUKE    WALTON 

"  Then  you  won't  give  me  the  trifle  I  ask?  " 

"  Trifle?    I  haven't  got  it" 

"Where  is  it  gone?" 

"  Gone  to  buy  this  watch.  That  took  nearly  the 
whole." 

"  It  is  indeed  so?  I  thought  you  received  it  as  a 
reward  for  picking  up  a  pocketbook." 

"  I  had  to  tell  my  aunt  something.  Otherwise 
they  would  ask  me  embarrassing  questions." 

"Ah,  quelle  invention!"  exclaimed  Felicie,  play- 
fully. "  And  you  really  have  none  of  the  money 
left?" 

"  No." 

"  Then — there  is  only  one  way." 

"What  is  that?" 

"  To  open  the  drawer  again." 

"  Are  you  mad,  Felicie  ?  I  should  surely  be  dis- 
covered. It  won't  do  to  try  it  a  second  time  when 
my  aunt  is  on  her  guard.  Besides,  very  likely  she 
don't  keep  her  money  there  now." 

"  Oh,  yes,  she  does." 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"  I  was  in  the  room  yesterday  when  she  opened 
the  drawer  to  take  out  money  to  pay  a  bill." 

"  She  must  be  foolish,  then." 

"  Ah,"  said  Felicie,  coolly,  ""  she  thinks  lightning 
won't  strike  twice  in  the  same  place." 

"  Well,  it  won't." 

"  There  must  have  been  fifty  dollars  in  bills  in  the 
drawer,"  continued  Felicie,  insinuatingly. 


LUKE   WALTON  247 

"  It  may  stay  there  for  all  me.  I  won't  go  to  the 
drawer  again." 

"  I  must  have  some  money,"  said  Felicie,  signifi- 
cantly. 

"  Then  tell  Aunt  Eliza,  and  she  may  give  you 
some." 

"  I  don't  think  your  Aunt  Eliza  likes  me,"  said 
Felicie,  frankly. 

"  Very  likely  not,"  said  Harold,  with  equal  can- 
dor. 

"  You  can  raise  some  money  on  your  watch,  Mas- 
ter Harold,"  suggested  Felicie. 

"How?" 

"  At  the  pawnbroker's." 

"  Well,  I  don't  mean  to." 

"No?" 

"  No !  "  returned  Harold,  emphatically. 

"  Suppose  I  go  and  tell  Mrs.  Merton  who  took 
her  money  ?  " 

"  You  would  only  expose  yourself." 

"  I  did  not  take  it." 

"  You  made  me  divide  with  you." 

"  I  shall  deny  all  that.  Besides,  I  shall  tell  all 
that  I  saw — on  that  day." 

Harold  felt  troubled.  Felicie  might,  as  he  knew, 
make  trouble  for  him,  and  though  he  could  in  time 
inform  against  her,  that  would  not  make  matters 
much  better  for  him.  Probably  the  whole  story 
would  come  out,  and  he  felt  sure  that  the  French 
maid  would  not  spare  him. 


248  LUKE   WALTON 

A  lucky  thought  came  to  him. 

"  Felicie,"  he  said,  "  I  think  I  can  suggest  some- 
thing that  will  help  you." 

"Well,  what  is  it?" 

"  Go  to  my  aunt's  drawer  yourself.  You  have 
plenty  of  chance,  and  you  can  keep  all  the  money 
you  find.  I  won't  ask  you  for  any  of  it." 

Felicie  eyed  him  sharply.  She  was  not  sure  but 
he  meant  to  trap  her. 

"  I  have  no  keys,"  she  said. 

"  You  can  use  the  same  bunch  I  have.  Here  they 
are!" 

Felicie  paused  a  moment,  then  took  the  proffered 
keys.  After  all,  why  should  she  not  make  use  of 
the  suggestion?  It  would  be  thought  that  the 
second  thief  was  the  same  as  the  first. 

"  Can  I  rely  on  your  discretion,  Master  Harold  ?  " 
she  asked. 

"  Yes,  certainly.  I  am  not  very  likely  to  say  any- 
thing about  the  matter." 

"  True !  It  might  not  be  for  your  interest.  Good- 
morning,  Master  Harold,  I  won't  detain  you  any 
longer." 

Harold  left  the  house  with  a  feeling  of  relief. 

"  I  hope  Felicie  will  be  caught !  "  he  said  to  him- 
self. "  I  have  a  great  mind  to  give  Aunt  Eliza  a 
hint." 

It  looked  as  if  the  generally  astute  Felicie  had 
made  a  mistake. 


CHAPTER   XXXIX 
LUKE  WALTON'S  LETTER 

"  Here  is  a  letter  for  you,  Luke !  "  said  Mrs.  Wal- 
ton. 

Luke  took  it  in  his  hand,  and  regarded  it 
curiously.  He  was  not  in  the  habit  of  receiving 
letters. 

"  It  is  postmarked  Milwaukee,"  he  said. 

"  Do  you  know  anyone  in  Milwaukee  ?  "  asked 
his  mother. 

"  No ;  or  stay,  it  must  be  from  Mr.  Powell,  a 
brother  of  Mrs.  Tracy." 

"  Probably  he  sends  a  message  to  his  sister." 

By  this  time  Luke  had  opened  the  following  letter, 
which  he  read  with  great  surprise  and  excite- 
ment: 

"  DEAR  LUKE  :  Come  to  Milwaukee  as  soon  as 
you  can,  and  join  me  at  the  Prairie  Hotel.  I  write 
in  your  own  interest.  There  is  a  large  sum  due  to 
your  father,  which  I  may  be  able  to  put  you  in  the 
way  of  collecting.  You  had  better  see  Aunt  Eliza, 
and  ask  leave  of  absence  for  a  day  or  two.  If  you 

249 


250  LUKE   WALTON 

haven't  money  enough  to  come  on,  let  her  know> 
and  I  am  sure  she  will  advance  it  to  you. 
"  Your  friend, 

"  WARNER  POWELL." 

"  What  can  it  mean  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Walton,  to 
whom  Luke  read  the  letter. 

"  It  must  refer  to  the  ten  thousand  dollars  which 
father  sent  to  us  on  his  dying  bed." 

"  If  it  only  were  so!"  said  the  widow,  clasping 
her  hands. 

"  At  any  rate,  I  shall  soon  find  out,  mother.  I  had 
better  take  the  letter  which  was  sent  us,  giving  us 
the  first  information  of  the  legacy." 

"  Very  well,  Luke !  I  don't  know  anything  about 
business.  I  must  leave  the  matter  entirely  in  your 
hands." 

"  I  will  go  at  once  to  Mrs.  Merton  and  ask  if  it 
will  inconvenience  her  if  I  go  away  for  a  couple  of 
days." 

"  Do  so,  Luke !  She  is  a  kind  friend,  and  you 
should  do  nothing  without  her  permission." 

Luke  took  the  cars  for  Prairie  Avenue,  though  it 
was  afternoon,  and  he  had  been  there  once  already. 
He  was  shown  immediately  into  the  old  lady's  pres- 
ence. 

Mrs.  Merton  saw  him  enter  with  surprise. 

"  Has  anything  happened,  Luke  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  have  received  a  letter  from  your  nephew, 
summoning  me  to  Milwaukee." 


•  LUKE   WALTON  251 

"  I  hope  he  is  not  in  any  scrape." 

"  No ;  it  is  a  very  friendly  letter,  written  in  my 
interest.  May  I  read  it  to  you  ?  " 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  it." 

Mrs.  Merton  settled  herself  back  in  her  rocking- 
chair,  and  listened  to  the  reading  of  the  letter. 

"  Do  you  know  what  this  refers  to,  Luke?  "  she 
asked. 

"  Yes ;  my  father  on  his  deathbed  in  California 
intrusted  a  stranger  with  ten  thousand  dollars  to 
bring  to  my  mother.  He  kept  it  for  his  own  use, 
and  it  was  only  by  an  accident  that  we  heard  about 
the  matter." 

"  You  interest  me,  Luke.  What  was  the  acci- 
dent?" 

Luke  explained. 

"  It  must  be  this  that  Mr.  Powell  refers  to,"  he 
added. 

"  But  I  don't  see  how  my  nephew  should  have 
anything  to  do  with  it." 

"  There  is  a  man  in  Milwaukee  who  answers  the 
description  of  the  stranger  to  whom  my  poor  father 
intrusted  his  money.  I  have  seen  him,  for  he  often 
comes  to  Chicago.  I  have  even  spoken  to  him." 

"  Have  you  ever  taxed  him  with  this  breach  of 
trust?" 

"  No,  for  he  bears  a  different  name.  He  is 
Thomas  Browning,  while  the  letter  mentions 
Thomas  Butler." 

"  He  may  have  changed  his  name." 


252  LUKE   WALTON 

"  I  was  stupid  not  to  think  of  that  before.  There 
can  hardly  be  two  men  so  singularly  alike.  I  have 
come  to  ask  you,  Mrs.  Merton,  if  you  can  spare  me 
for  two  or  three  'days." 

"  For  as  long  as  you  like,  Luke,"  said  the  old  lady, 
promptly.  "  Have  you  any  money  for  your  travel- 
ing expenses  ?  " 

"  Yes,  thank  you." 

"  No  matter.  Here  are  twenty  dollars.  Money 
never  comes  amiss." 

"  You  are  always  kind  to  me,  Mrs.  Merton,"  said 
Luke,  gratefully. 

"  It  is  easy  to  be  kind  if  one  is  rich.  I  want  to 
see  that  man  punished.  Let  me  give  you  one  piece 
of  advice.  Be  on  your  guard  with  this  man !  He 
is  not  to  be  trusted." 

"  Thank  you !    I  am  sure  your  advice  is  good." 

"  I  wish  you  good  luck,  Luke.  However  things 
may  turn  out,  there  is  one  thing  that  gratifies  me. 
Warner  is  showing  himself  your  friend.  I  have 
looked  upon  him  till  recently  as  a  black  sheep,  but 
he  is  redeeming  himself  rapidly  in  my  eyes.  I  shall 
not  forget  his  kindness  to  you." 

As  Luke  went  downstairs  he  met  Mrs.  Tracy. 

"  Here  again !  "  said  she,  coldly.  "  Did  my  aunt 
send  for  you  this  afternoon  ?  " 

"  No,  madam." 

'''  Then  you  should  not  have  intruded.  You  are 
young,  but  you  are  very  artful.  I  see  through  your 
schemes,  you  may  rest  assured." 


LUKE   WALTON  253 

"  I  wished  to  show  Mrs.  Merton  a  letter  from 
your  brother,  now  in  Milwaukee,"  said  Luke. 
"Oh,  that's  it,  is  it?    Let  me  see  the  letter." 
"  I  must  refer  you  to.  Mrs.  Merton." 
"  He  has  probably  sent  to  Aunt  Eliza  for  some 
money,"  thought  Mrs.  Tracy.     "  He  and  the  bo; 
are  well  matched." 


CHAPTER    XL 

FACE   TO    FACE    WITH    THE   ENEMY 

Thomas  Browning  sat  in  his  handsome  study,  in 
a  complacent  frame  of  mind.  The  caucus  was  to 
be  held  in  the  evening,  and  he  confidently  expected 
the  nomination  for  mayor.  It  was  the  post  he  had 
coveted  for  a  long  time.  There  were  other  honors 
that  were  greater,  but  the  mayoralty  would  perhaps 
prove  a  stepping-stone  to  them.  He  must  not  be 
impatient.  He  was  only  in  middle  life,  and  there 
was  plenty  of  time. 

"  I  didn't  dream  this  when  I  was  a  penniless 
miner  in  California,"  he  reflected,  gleefully.  "  For- 
tune was  hard  upon  me  then,  but  now  I  am  at  the  top 
of  the  heap.  All  my  own  good  management,  too. 
Tom  Butler — no,  Browning — is  no  fool,  if  I  do  say 
it  myself." 

"  Someone  to  see  you,.  Mr.  Browning,"  said  the 
servant. 

"  Show  him  in !  "  replied  the  philanthropist. 

A  poorly  dressed  man  followed  the  maid  into  the 
room. 

Mr.  Browning  frowned.  He  had  thought  it 
might  be  some  influential  member  of  his  party. 

254 


LUKE   WALTON  255 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  he  asked,  roughly. 

The  poor  man  stood  humbly  before  him,  nerv- 
ously pressing  the  hat  between  his  hands. 

"  I  am  one  of  your  tenants,  Mr.  Browning.  I  am 
behindhand  with  my  rent,  owing  to  sickness  in  the 
family,  and  I  have  been  ordered  out." 

"  And  very  properly,  too ! "  said  Browning. 
"  You  can't  expect  me  to  let  you  stay  gratis." 

"  But,  sir,  you  have  the  reputation  of  being  a 
philanthropist.  It  hardly  seems  in  character " 

"  I  do  not  call  myself  a  philanthropist — others  call 
me  so — and  perhaps  they  are  right.  I  help  the  poor 
to  the  extent  of  my  means,  but  even  a  philanthropist 
expects  his  honest  dues." 

"  Then  you  can  do  nothing  for  me,  sir?  " 

"  No ;  I  do  not  feel  called  upon  to  interfere  in 
your  case." 

The  poor  man  went  out  sorrowfully,  leaving  the 
philanthropist  in  an  irritable  mood.  Five  minutes 
later  a  second  visitor  was  announced. 

"Who  is  it?"  asked  Browning,  fearing  it  might 
be  another  tenant. 

"  It  is  a  boy,  sir." 

"  With  a  message,  probably.    Show  him  up." 

But  Thomas  Browning  was  destined  to  be  sur- 
prised, when  in  the  manly-looking  youth  who  en- 
tered he  recognized  the  Chicago  newsboy  who  had 
already  excited  his  uneasiness. 

"  What  brings  you  here  ?  "  he  demanded,  in  a 
startled  tone. 


256  LUKE   WALTON 

"  I  don't  know  if  you  remember  me,  Mr.  Brown- 
ing," said  Luke,  quietly.  "  I  have  sold  you  papers 
near  the  Sherman  House,  in  Chicago." 

"  I  thought  your  face  looked  familiar,"  said 
Browning,  assuming  an  indifferent  tone.  "  You 
have  made  a  mistake  in  coming  to  Milwaukee.  You. 
cannot  do  as  well  here  as  in  Chicago." 

"  I  have  not  come  here  in  search  of  a  place.  I 
have  a  good  one  at  home." 

"  I  suppose  you  have  some  object  in  coming  to 
this  city?" 

"  Yes ;  I  came  to  see  you." 

"  Upon  my  word,  I  ought  to  feel  flattered,  but  I 
can't  do  anything  for  you.  I  have  some  reputation 
in  charitable  circles,  but  I  have  my  hands  full 
here." 

"  I  have  not  come  to  ask  you  a  favor,  Mr.  Brown- 
ing. If  you  will  allow  me,  I  will  ask  your  advice  in 
a  matter  of  importance  to  me." 

Browning  brightened  up.  He  was  always  ready 
to  give  advice. 

"  Go  on !  "  he  said. 

"  When  I  was  a  young  boy  my  father  went  to 
California.  He  left  my  mother,  my  brother,  and 
myself  very  poorly  provided  for,  but  he  hoped  to 
earn  money  at  the  mines.  A  year  passed,  and  we 
heard  of  his  death." 

"  A  good  many  men  die  in  California,"  said 
Browning,  phlegmatically. 

"  We  could  not  learn  that  father  left  anything, 


LUKE   WALTON  257 

and  we  were  compelled  to  get  along  as  we  could. 
Mother  obtained  sewing  to  do  at  low  prices,  and  I 
sold  papers." 

"  A  common  experience !  "  said  Browning,  coldly. 

"  About  three  months  ago,"  continued  Luke,  "  we 
were  surprised  by  receiving,  in  a  letter  from  a 
stranger,  a  message  from  my  father's  deathbed." 

Thomas  Browning  started  and  turned  pale,  as  he 
gazed  intently  in  the  boy's  face. 

"  How  much  does  he  know  ?  "  he  asked  himself, 
apprehensively. 

"  Go  on !  "  he  said,  slowly. 

"  In  this  letter  we  learned  for  the  first  time  that 
father  had  intrusted,  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars 
to  an  acquaintance  to  be  brought  to  my  mother. 
This  man  proved  false  and  kept  the  money." 

"  This  story  may  or  may  not  be  true,"  said 
Browning,  with  an  effort.  "  Was  the  man's  name 
given  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  his  name  was  Thomas  Butler." 

"  Indeed !    Have  you  ever  met  him  ?  " 

"  I  think  so,"  answered  Luke,  slowly.  "  I  will 
read  his  description  from  the  letter :  '  He  has  a  wart 
on  the  upper  part  of  his  right  cheek — a  mark  which 
disfigures  and  mortifies  him  exceedingly.  He  is 
about  five  feet  ten  inches  in  height,  with  a  dark  com- 
plexion and  dark  hair,  a  little  tinged  with  gray.' ''' 

"  Let  me  see  the  letter,"  said  Browning,  hoarsely. 

He  took  the  letter  in  his  hand,  and,  moving  near 
the  grate  fire,  began  to  read  it.  Suddenly  the  paper, 


258  LUKE   WALTON 

as  if  accidentally,  slipped  from  his  fingers,  and  fell 
upon  the  glowing  coals — where  it  was  instantly 
consumed. 

"  How  careless  I  am !  "  ejaculated  Browning,  but 
there  was  exultation  in  the  glance. 


CHAPTER   XLI 

MR.    BROWNING   COMES   TO  TERMS 

The  destruction  of  the  letter,  and  the  open  exulta- 
tion of  the  man  who  had  in  intention  at  least  doubly 
wronged  him,  did  not  appear  to  dismay  Luke  Wal- 
ton. He  sat  quite  cool  and  collected,  facing  Mr. 
Browning. 

"  Really,  I  don't  see  how  this  letter  happened  to 
slip  from  my  hand,"  continued  the  philanthropist. 
"  I  am  afraid  you  consider  it  important." 

"  I  should  if  it  had  been  the  genuine  letter,"  said 
Luke. 

"  What  ?  "  gasped  Browning. 

"  It  was  only  a  copy,  as  you  will  be  glad  to  hear." 

"  Boy,  I  think  you  are  deceiving  me,"  said  Brown- 
ing, sharply. 

"  Not  at  all !  I  left  the  genuine  letter  in  the  hands 
of  my  lawyer." 

"Your  lawyer?" 

"  Yes.  I  have  put  this  matter  in  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Jordan,  of  this  city." 

Mr.  Browning  looked  very  much  disturbed.  Mr. 
Jordan  was  a  well-known  and  eminent  attorney. 
Moreover,  he  was  opposed  in  politics  to  the  would-b« 

259 


a6o  LUKE   WALTON 

mayor.  If  his  opponent  should  get  hold  of  this  dis- 
creditable chapter  in  his  past  history,  his  political 
aspirations  might  as  well  be  given  up.  Again  he 
asked  himself,  "  How  much  of  the  story  does  this 
boy  know  ?  " 

"  If  you  are  employing  a  lawyer,"  he  said,  after 
a  pause,  "  I  don't  understand  why  you  came  to  me 
for  advice." 

"  I  thought  you  might  be  interested  in  the  mat- 
ter," said  Luke,  significantly. 

"  Why  should  I  be  interested  in  your  affairs  ?  I 
have  so  many  things  to  think  of  that  really  I  can't 
take  hold  of  anything  new." 

"  I  will  tell  you,  sir.  You  are  the  man  who  re- 
teived  money  in  trust  from  my  dying  father.  I  look 
to  you  to  restore  it  with  interest." 

"How  dare  you  insinuate  any  such  thing?"  de- 
manded Browning,  furiously.  "  Do  you  mean  to 
extort  money  by  threats?" 

"  No,  sir.    I  only  ask  for  justice." 

"  There  is  nothing  to  connect  me  with  the  matter. 
According  to  your  letter  it  was  a  Thomas  Butler 
who  received  the  money  you  refer  to." 

'  True,  and  your  name  at  that  time  was  Thomas 
Butler." 

Mr.  Browning  turned  livid.  The  net  seemed  to 
be  closing  about  him. 

"  What  proof  have  you  of  this  ridiculous  asser- 
tion ?  "  he  demanded. 

"  The  testimony  of  one  who  knew  you  then  and 


LUKE    WALTON  261 

now — Mr.  King,  who  keeps  a  cigar  stand  at  the 
Prairie  Hotel." 

"  Ha !  traitor !  "  ejaculated  Browning,  apostro- 
phizing the  absent  King. 

"  This  is  a  conspiracy !  "  he  said.  "  King  has  put 
you  up  to  this.  He  is  a  discreditable  tramp  whom 
I  befriended  when  in  dire  need.  This  is  my  reward 
for  it." 

"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  that,  Mr.  Browning. 
Mr.  King  is  ready  to  help  me  with  his  testimony. 
My  lawyer  has  advised  me  to  call  upon  you,  and  to 
say  this:  If  you  will  pay  over  the  ten  thousand 
dollars  with  interest  I  will  engage  in  my  mother's 
name  to  keep  the  matter  from  getting  before  the 
public." 

"  And  if  I  don't  agree  to  this?  " 

"  Mr.  Jordan  is  instructed  to  bring  suit  against 
you." 

Drops  of  perspiration  gathered  on  the  brow  of 
Mr.  Browning.  This  would  never  do.  The  suit, 
even  if  unsuccessful,  would  blast  his  reputation  as 
a  philanthropist,  and  his  prospects  as  a  politician. 

"  I  will  see  Mr.  Jordan,"  he  said. 

"  Very  well,  sir.  Then  I  wish  you  good-morn- 
ing." 

Within  two  days  Thomas  Browning  had  paid  over 
to  the  lawyer  for  his  young  client  the  full  sum  de- 
manded, and  Luke  left  Milwaukee  with  the  happy 
consciousness  that  his  mother  was  now  beyond  the 
reach  of  poverty. 


CHAPTER  XLII 

CONCLUSION 

Felicia  reflected  over  Harold's  dishonest  sugges- 
tion, and  concluded  to  adopt  it.  She  meant  to 
charge  Harold  with  the  second  robbery,  and  to 
brazen  it  out  if  necessary.  Accordingly,  one  day 
she  stole  into  Mrs.  Merton's  sitting  room,  and  with 
the  keys  supplied  by  Harold  succeeded  in  opening 
the  drawer.  Inside,  greatly  to  her  surprise,  she  saw 
the  identical  pocketbook  which  it  had  been  under- 
stood was  taken  at  the  time  of  the  first  robbery.  She 
was  holding  it  in  her  hand,  when  a  slight  noise  led 
her  to  look  up  swiftly. 

To  her  dismay  she  saw  the  old  lady,  whom  she 
had  supposed  out  of  the  house,  regarding  her 
sternly. 

"  What  does  this  mean,  Felicie  ?  "  demanded  Mrs. 
Merton. 

"  I — I  found  these  keys  and  was  trying  them  to 
see  if  any  of  them  had  been  used  at  the  time  your 
money  was  stolen." 

"  Do  you  know  who  took  my  money  on  that  oc- 
casion ?  "  continued  the  old  lady. 

"  Yes,  I  do,"  answered  Felicie,  swiftly  deciding 
to  tell  the  truth. 

262 


LUKE   WALTON  263 

"Who  was  it?" 

"  Your  nephew  Harold,"  answered  Felicie,  glibly. 

"You  know  this?" 

"  I  saw  him  open  the  drawer.  I  was  looking 
through  a  crack  of  the  door." 

"  And  you  never  told  me  of  this  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  want  to  expose  him.  He  begged  me  not 
to  do  so." 

"  That  is  singular.  He  warned  me  yesterday 
that  he  suspected  you  of  being  the  thief,  and  that 
he  had  reason  to  think  you  were  planning  a  second 
robbery." 

"  He  did  ?  "  said  Felicie,  with  flashing  eyes. 

"  Yes ;  what  hare  you  to  say  to  it  ?  " 

"  That  he  put  me  up  to  it,  and  gave  me  these  keys 
to  help  me  in  doing  it.  Of  course,  he  expected  to 
share  the  money." 

This  last  statement  was  untrue,  but  Felicie  was 
determined  to  be  revenged  upon  her  treacherous 
ally. 

"  And  you  accepted  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Felicie,  seeing  no  way  of  escape.  "  I 
am  poor,  and  thought  you  wouldn't  miss  the 
money." 

"  My  nephew  accused  Luke  Walton  of  being  the 
thief." 

"  It  is  untrue.  He  wanted  to  divert  suspicion 
from  himself.  Besides,  he  hates  Luke." 

"Do  you?" 

"  No ;  I  think  him  much  better  than  Harold." 


264  LUKE  WALTON 

"  So  do  I.  Where  did  my  nephew  get  his  gold 
watch?" 

"  It  was  bought  with  the  money  he  stole  from  the 
drawer." 

"  So  I  supposed.  Well,  Felicie,  you  can  go,  but 
I  think  you  had  better  hand  me  that  bunch  of  keys." 

"  Shall  you  report  me  to  Mrs.  Tracy?  " 

"  I  have  not  decided.  For  the  present  we  will 
both  keep  this  matter  secret." 

Luke's  absence  was,  of  course,  noticed  by  Mrs. 
Tracy. 

"Have  you  discharged  Luke  Walton?"  she 
asked,  hopefully.  "  I  observe  he  has  not  come  here 
for  the  last  two  or  three  days." 

"  He  has  gone  out  of  the  city — on  business." 

"  I  am  surprised  that  you  should  trust  that  boy  to 
such  an  extent." 

At  this  moment  a  telegraph  messenger  rang  the 
bell,  and  a  telegram  was  brought  up  to  Mrs.  Merton. 

It  ran  thus: 

"  To  MRS.  MERTON, Prairie  Avenue,  Chicago : 

"  I  have  recovered  all  my  mother's  money  with 
interest.  Mr.  Powell  is  also  successful.  Will  re- 
turn this  evening.  LUKE  WALTON." 

"  Read  it  if  you  like,  Louisa,"  said  the  old  lady, 
smiling  with  satisfaction. 
"  What  does  it  mean  ?  " 
"  That  Luke  has  recovered  over  ten  thousand  dol« 


LUKE   WALTON  265 

lars,  of  which  his  mother  had  been  defrauded.  It 
was  Warner  who  put  him  on  the  track  of  the  man 
who  wrongfully  held  the  money." 

"  Indeed !  "  said  Mrs.  Tracy,  spitefully.  "  Then 
the  least  he  can  do  is  to  return  the  money  he  took 
from  you." 

"  He  never  took  any,  Louisa." 

"Who  did,  then?" 

"  Your  son  Harold." 

"  Who  has  been  telling  lies  about  my  poor  boy  ?  " 
exclaimed  Mrs.  Tracy,  angrily. 

"  A  person  who  saw  him  unlocking  the  drawer." 

"  Has  Luke  Walton  been  telling  falsehoods  about 
my  son  ?  " 

"  No ;  it  was  quite  another  person.  I  have  other 
proof  also,  and  have  known  for  some  time  who  the 
real  thief  was.  If  Harold  claims  that  I  have  done 
him  injustice,  send  him  to  me." 

After  an  interview  with  Harold,  Mrs.  Tracy  was 
obliged  to  believe,  much  against  her  will,  that  he 
was  the  guilty  one  and  not  the  boy  she  so  much  de- 
tested. This  did  not  prepossess  her  any  more  in 
favor  of  Luke  Walton,  whom  she  regarded  as  the 
rival  and  enemy  of  her  son. 

It  was  a  joyful  coming  home  for  Luke.  He  re- 
moved at  once  to  a  nice  neighborhood,  and  ceased 
to  be  a  Chicago  newsboy.  He  did  not  lose  the 
friendship  of  Mrs.  Merton,  who  is  understood  to 
have  put  him  down  for  a  large  legacy  in  her  will, 
and  still  employs  him  to  transact  much  of  her  busi- 


266  LUKE    WALTON 

ness.  Next  year  she  proposes  to  establish  her 
nephew,  Warner  Powell,  and  Luke  in  a  commission 
business,  under  the  style  of 

POWELL  &  WALTON, 

she  furnishing  the  capital. 

The  house  on  Prairie  Avenue  is  closed.  Mrs. 
Tracy  is  married  again,  to  a  man  whose  intem- 
perate, habits  promise  her  little  happiness.  Harold 

seems  unwilling  to  settle  down  to  business,  but  has 
developed  a  taste  for  dress  and  the  amusements  of 
a  young  man  about  town.  He  thinks  he  will  even- 
tually be  provided  for  by  Mrs.  Merton,  but  in  this 
he  will  be  mistaken,  as  she  has  decided  to  leave 
much  the  larger  part  of  her  wealth  to  charitable 
institutions  after  remembering  her  nephew,  Warner 
Powell,  handsomely. 

Ambrose  Kean  never  repeated  the  mistake  he  had 
made.  Still  more,  by  diligent  economy  he  saved  up 
the  sum  advanced  him  by  Mrs.  Merton,  and  he 
offered  it  to  her.  She  accepted  it,  but  returned  it 
many  times  over  to  his  mother.  Her  patronage 
brought  him  another  advantage ;  it  led  his  employer 
to  increase  his  salary,  which  is  now  double  that 
which  he  formerly  received. 

Felicie  lost  her  position,  but  speedily  secured 
another,  where  it  is  to  be  hoped  she  will  be  more 
circumspect  in  her  conduct. 

Thomas  Browning,  after  all,  lost  the  nomination 


LUKE   WALTON  267 

which  he  craved — and  much  of  his  wealth  is  gone. 
He  dabbled  in  foolish  speculations,  and  is  now  com- 
paratively a  poor  man.  Through  the  agency  of 
Jack  King,  the  story  of  his  breach  of  trust  was  whis- 
pered about,  and  the  sham  philanthropist  is  better 
understood  and  less  respected  by  his  fellow-citizens. 

His  nephew,  Stephen  Webb,  has  been  obliged  to 
buckle  down  to  hard  work  at  ten  dollars  a  week, 
and  feels  that  his  path  is  indeed  thorny. 

Luke  Walton  is  not  puffed  up  by  his  unexpected 
and  remarkable  success.  He  never  fails  to  recog- 
nize kindly,  and  help,  if  there  is  need,  the  old  asso- 
ciates of  his  humbler  days,  and  never  tries  to  conceal 
the  fact  that  he  was  once  a  Chicago  newsboy. 


THE  END 


Bound  to  Win  Series 


58  Title* 


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THIS  new  series  is  proving  the 
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Adventures  Among  the 
Indians. ...W.  H.G.  Kingston 

Afloat  in  the  Forest rReid 

All  Aboard Oliver  Optic 

Among  the  Malays Henty 

Boat  Club Oliver  Optic 

Bonnie  Prince  Charlie. Henty 

Bound  to  Rise Alger,  Jr. 

Boy  Knight  The Henty 

Brave  and  Bold  . .  Alger,  Jr. 
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By  Sheer  Pluck Henty 

Capt.  Bay  ley's  Heir. ...  Henty 

Cash  Boy,  The Alger,  Jr. 

Cast  Up  by  the  Sea.... Baker 

Cornet  of  Horse Henty 

Desert  Home  — Mayne  Reid 
For  Name  and  Fame. . . Henty 

For  the  Temple Henty 

Friends  tho'  Divided. ..  Henty 

Golden  Canon Henty 

Hero  of  Pine  Ridge..  .Butler 
In  Freedom's  Cause. ..Henty 
In  the  Reign  of  Terror. Henty 

In  Times  of  Peril Henty 

Jack  Archer Henty 

Jack  Harkaway's  School 
Days Hemyng 


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80.  Lion  of  St.  Mark Henty 

81.  Lion  of  the  North Henty 

32.  Lone  Ranch Mayne  Reid 

83.  Now  or  Never . .  .Oliver  Optio 

34.  One  of  the  28th Henty 

35.  Out  on  the  Pampas....  Henty 

36.  Pathfinder.Fenimore  Cooper 

37.  Paul  the  Peddler..  .Alger,  Jr. 
88.  Pilot,  The . .  Fenimore  Cooper 

39.  Poor  and  Proud. Oliver  Optio 

40.  Rifle  Rangers. . . . Mayne.Reid 

41.  Risen  from  tho  Ranks. .Alger 

42.  Robinson  Crusoe..  .D.  DeFoe 

43.  Scalp  Hunters..  .Mayne  Reid 

44.  Slow  and  Sure Alger,  Jr. 

45.  Star  of  India E.S.Ellis 

46.  Store  Boy,  The Alger,  Jr, 

47.  Strive  and  Succeed.  Alger,  Jr. 

48.  Strong  and  Steady..  Alger,  Jr. 

49.  Sturdy  and  Strong Henty 

BO.  Through  the  Fray Henty 

51.  Try  Again Olivei  Optio 

52.  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  —  Stowe 

53.  With  Clive  in  India....  Henty 

54.  Young  Buglers Henty 

65.  Young  Carthaginians.. Henty 

56.  Young  Colonists Henty 

57.  Young  Midshipman  ..  .Henty 

58.  Young  Outlaw,  The.  Algor,  Jr. 


For  sale  by  alt  Book  and  Newsdealers,  or  will  be  sent  to  any  address 

in  the  U.  S.,  Canada  or  Mexico,  post  paid,  on  receipt  of  price, 

75c  each,  in  currency,  money  order  or  stamps 

407-2'5i%ftll8fci 


ML  A.  Donohue  &  Co. 


fs 


